Edward Thomas Fairchild (June 17, 1872 – October 29, 1965) was an American jurist and legislator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the 15th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court; he served on the Court for 27 years, from 1930 to 1957. Before that, he served 14 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County. He also represented central Milwaukee County for six years as a Republican in the Wisconsin Senate. His son, Thomas E. Fairchild, was also a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and a judge of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Honorable Edward T. Fairchild | |
|---|---|
_(8253035657)_(1).jpg) Fairchild circa 1940 | |
| 15th Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court | |
| In office January 1, 1954 – January 7, 1957 | |
| Preceded by | Oscar M. Fritz |
| Succeeded by | John E. Martin |
| Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court | |
| In office April 30, 1930 – January 7, 1957 | |
| Appointed by | Walter J. Kohler, Sr. |
| Preceded by | Franz C. Eschweiler |
| Succeeded by | Thomas E. Fairchild |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge of the 2nd Circuit, Branch 6 | |
| In office September 1916 – April 30, 1930 | |
| Appointed by | Emanuel L. Philipp |
| Preceded by | Franz C. Eschweiler |
| Succeeded by | John C. Kleczka |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 5th district | |
| In office January 13, 1915 – September 1916 | |
| Preceded by | George J. Weigle |
| Succeeded by | Henry Otto Reinnoldt |
| In office January 9, 1907 – January 11, 1911 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Cassius Rogers |
| Succeeded by | George J. Weigle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward Thomas Fairchild June 17, 1872 Towanda, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 1965 (aged 93) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Green Mount Cemetery Dansville, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
|
| Children |
|
Early life and education
editBorn in Towanda, Pennsylvania, Fairchild grew up in Dansville, New York, where he was educated. He was employed in a newspaper and studied law in the office of Rowe and Coyne. Later, he bought a farm in Dansville, where he would go to for vacations.[1]
Career
editAfter being admitted to the New York bar, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked in the district attorney's office.
In 1906 he was elected to his first of three terms in the Wisconsin State Senate, ultimately serving in the 48th, 49th, and 52nd sessions of the Wisconsin legislature. In 1916, during the 52nd session of the legislature, he was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County.
In 1930, Fairchild was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court[2] and served as chief justice from 1954 until his retirement in 1957.
In 1957, he administered the oath of office when his son, Thomas E. Fairchild, was sworn in as a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[3]
Notes
edit- ^ "Biographical sketches". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin, 1907 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 1126–1127. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ "Judicial branch of the state government". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1931 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 385. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ "Wisconsin Court System - Edward T. Fairchild". Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2010-07-19.