William Stephens (judge)
Encyclopedia
William Stephens was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Bewlie, Georgia, Stephens was a Second Lieutenant in the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
, later becoming a Colonel of the Chatham County
Militia, Georgia
. He was a Clerk of the Common House of Assembly, Georgia from 1775, and from some point thereafter was Attorney General of Georgia
until 1776. He served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia beginning in 1780, and was President of the City of Savannah
, Georgia beginning in 1787, then as Mayor of City of Savannah, Georgia from 1793 to 1795. He was also a Judge on the Georgia Superior Court.
On October 22, 1801, Stephens received a recess appointment
from President Thomas Jefferson
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Georgia vacated by Joseph Clay
. Formally nominated on January 6, 1802, Stephens was confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 26, 1802, and received his commission the same day. He resigned on October 13, 1818, and died in Savannah.
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 Bewlie, Georgia, Stephens was a Second Lieutenant in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, later becoming a Colonel of the Chatham County
Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. In the official US Census of 2010, Chatham County had a total population of 265,128 . Chatham is the most populous Georgia county outside the Atlanta metropolitan area...
Militia, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He was a Clerk of the Common House of Assembly, Georgia from 1775, and from some point thereafter was Attorney General of Georgia
Attorney General of Georgia
The attorney general of Georgia is the chief law enforcement officer and lawyer for the U.S. state of Georgia. The attorney general is elected to a four-year term at the same time as elections are held for Governor and other offices....
until 1776. He served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia beginning in 1780, and was President of the City of Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Georgia beginning in 1787, then as Mayor of City of Savannah, Georgia from 1793 to 1795. He was also a Judge on the Georgia Superior Court.
On October 22, 1801, Stephens received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Georgia vacated by Joseph Clay
Joseph Clay
Joseph Clay was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Joseph Clay was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Congresses, and served until his resignation after March 28, 1808. He was also...
. Formally nominated on January 6, 1802, Stephens 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 January 26, 1802, and received his commission the same day. He resigned on October 13, 1818, and died in Savannah.