William Morris Sparks
Encyclopedia
William Morris Sparks was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Charlottesville, Indiana
, Sparks received an A.B.
from DePauw University
in 1896, attended Indiana Law School, and read law to enter the Bar in 1896. He was a Deputy prosecuting attorney of Rush County, Indiana from 1896 to 1898, then entered private practice in Rushville, Indiana
from 1897 to 1901. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from 1901 to 1903. He was a judge on the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Indiana from 1904 to 1910, returning to private practice in Rushville from 1910 to 1914, and again assuming his Circuit Court judgeship from 1914 to 1929.
On October 25, 1929, Sparks was nominated by President Herbert Hoover
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
vacated by Albert Barnes Anderson
. Sparks was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 31, 1929, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge in 1948, assuming senior status
on November 13, 1948. Sparks served in that capacity until his death in 1850, in Rushville.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Charlottesville, Indiana
Charlottesville, Indiana
For the city in Virginia see Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville is an unincorporated town in Jackson Township, Hancock County, Indiana.-Geography:Charlottesville is located at .City is worlds largest burg producer for bourbon industry......
, Sparks received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
in 1896, attended Indiana Law School, and read law to enter the Bar in 1896. He was a Deputy prosecuting attorney of Rush County, Indiana from 1896 to 1898, then entered private practice in Rushville, Indiana
Rushville, Indiana
Rushville is a city in Rushville Township, Rush County, Indiana, United States. The population was 6,341 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Rush County. It was the campaign headquarters for Wendell Willkie's 1940 presidential campaign against Franklin D. Roosevelt. Willkie is buried...
from 1897 to 1901. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
from 1901 to 1903. He was a judge on the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Indiana from 1904 to 1910, returning to private practice in Rushville from 1910 to 1914, and again assuming his Circuit Court judgeship from 1914 to 1929.
On October 25, 1929, Sparks was nominated by President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
vacated by Albert Barnes Anderson
Albert Barnes Anderson
Albert Barnes Anderson was a United States federal judge.Born in Zionsville, Indiana, Anderson received an A.B. from Wabash College in 1879 and read law in 1881...
. Sparks was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on October 31, 1929, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge in 1948, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on November 13, 1948. Sparks served in that capacity until his death in 1850, in Rushville.