Warner Cope
Encyclopedia
Warner Walton Cope also known as W. W. Cope, was the 6th Chief Justice of California.
Born in Kentucky
, Cope came to California in 1850 and tried mining, but found little success. In 1853 he resumed work as an attorney, first in El Dorado County
and the next year in Jackson
, Amador County
. He was elected to the state legislature in 1858. In June 1859 he was nominated by Alvinza Hayward
, also of Amador County, to be the candidate of the Democratic Lecompton Party for associate justice of the Supreme Court of California
. In September 1859, he was elected, but before his term was to begin he was appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy on the court. He became Chief Justice in 1863 after President
Abraham Lincoln
appointed Stephen Field
to the U.S. Supreme Court
. Cope himself left the court at the end of that year. After leaving the court, Cope returned to private practice until about 1893, at which point he retired to Contra Costa County
, where he raised nuts and fruit. He was president of the San Francisco Bar Association from 1880 to 1885. He died in San Francisco
Cope married early in life; three sons and three daughters outlived him. One of his sons, Walter B. Cope, was a Superior Court judge and a prominent California lawyer. Like his father, he also served as president of the San Francisco Bar Association, from 1906-9.
Born in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Cope came to California in 1850 and tried mining, but found little success. In 1853 he resumed work as an attorney, first in El Dorado County
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
and the next year in Jackson
Jackson, California
Jackson is the county seat of Amador County, California. The population was 4,651 at the 2010 census, up from 3,989 at the 2000 census...
, Amador County
Amador County, California
Amador County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,091. The county seat is Jackson.Amador County bills itself as "The Heart of the Mother Lode" and lies within the Gold Country...
. He was elected to the state legislature in 1858. In June 1859 he was nominated by Alvinza Hayward
Alvinza Hayward
Alvinza Hayward was a well-known gold mining millionaire who made his fortune in California. He later became a prominent financier and businessman in the San Francisco bay area.-Early life:...
, also of Amador County, to be the candidate of the Democratic Lecompton Party for associate justice of the Supreme Court of California
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
. In September 1859, he was elected, but before his term was to begin he was appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy on the court. He became Chief Justice in 1863 after President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed Stephen Field
Stephen Field
Professor Stephen P Field, FRCGP is a British doctor and general practitioner, former Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Chairman of the Department of Health's Inclusion Board. In 2011, the United Kingdom government appointed him to chair the NHS Future Forum formed to...
to the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. Cope himself left the court at the end of that year. After leaving the court, Cope returned to private practice until about 1893, at which point he retired to Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
, where he raised nuts and fruit. He was president of the San Francisco Bar Association from 1880 to 1885. He died in San Francisco
Cope married early in life; three sons and three daughters outlived him. One of his sons, Walter B. Cope, was a Superior Court judge and a prominent California lawyer. Like his father, he also served as president of the San Francisco Bar Association, from 1906-9.