William Truslow Newman was a United States federal judge

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....

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Newman read law to enter the bar in 1866. He was a Captain in the Confederate States Army

Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...

 during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

, from 1861 to 1865. During the war, he was taken prisoner in battle at Johnson's Ferry. Shortly afterwards, he was released in exchange. He returned to fight and lost his right arm in the Battle of Jonesborough

Battle of Jonesborough

-Further reading:...

. He was in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

 from 1866 to 1871. He was the city attorney of Atlanta from 1871 to 1883, thereafter retutring to private practice until 1886.

On August 13, 1886, Newman 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 Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland

Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...

 to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is a United States District Court which serves the residents of forty-six counties...

 vacated by Henry K. McCay. Formally nominated on December 9, 1886, Newman 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 13, 1887, and received his commission the same day. Newman served on the bench until his death, in 1920, in Atlanta.

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