Franklin S. Richards
Encyclopedia
Franklin Snyder Richards (June 20, 1849 – September 4, 1934) was the general counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church) in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was closely connected with the defense against charges of polygamy of many leading LDS Church figures.
at that time, and Jane Snyder. From 1866 to 1868 Richards was a school teacher in Salt Lake City. In 1868 he married Emily S. Tanner.
In 1869 Richards moved to Ogden, Utah
. He became the clerk of the probate court there and undertook the study of law. Richards passed the bar
in 1874. In 1877 he went to Great Britain
as a missionary
for the LDS Church. He was then retained by the LDS Church in 1879 to represent its interests in the settling of Brigham Young
's estate. Richards remained the general counsel
for the LDS Church until his death in 1934.
In 1889 Richards sought to convince President
Benjamin Harrison
and James G. Blaine
to appoint non-vindictive officers in Utah Territory
. Richards formed a law firm with Rufus K. Williams, who had been chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court
, in 1879. They served as the primary legal counsel seeking to prevent the denial of the franchise
to the women of the Utah Territory in 1880.
Richards' wife, Emily S. Richards, was one of the main figures behind the founding of the Utah Women's Suffrage Association in 1889.
Richards was a member of the 1882 Utah State Constitutional Convention and was one of the delegates sent to seek the approval of the State Constitution in Washington, D.C. In 1884 Richards was elected to the Council (roughly equivalent to a State Senate) of the Utah Territorial Legislature, for the district encompassing Weber Count
and Box Elder County
. Richards replaced Lorenzo Snow
who had served in this specific sea since 1854. Richards only served one term in this position. Richards was a member of the 1895 Utah State Constitutional Convention.
Among other cases, Richards was the legal counsel for Lorenzo Snow
in his case before the United States Supreme Court in which a complex scheme was overturned which would have given men essentially life sentences for unlawful cohabitation under the Edmunds Act
, based on ingenious definitions of separate incidents of breaking the law.
At various times Richards served as city attorney for both Ogden and Salt Lake City. He was also the prosecuting attorney for Weber County, Utah
and served on the Legislative Council of Utah.
Richards was a delegate at the 1895 Utah State Constitutional Convention, where he was one of the main advocates for women's suffrage
.
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society
has an award named after Richards.
Biography
Richards was born in Salt Lake City in 1849. He was the son of Franklin D. Richards, one of the Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesQuorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
at that time, and Jane Snyder. From 1866 to 1868 Richards was a school teacher in Salt Lake City. In 1868 he married Emily S. Tanner.
In 1869 Richards moved to Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. He became the clerk of the probate court there and undertook the study of law. Richards passed the bar
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
in 1874. In 1877 he went to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
as a missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
for the LDS Church. He was then retained by the LDS Church in 1879 to represent its interests in the settling of Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
's estate. Richards remained the general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
for the LDS Church until his death in 1934.
In 1889 Richards sought to convince 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....
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
and James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
to appoint non-vindictive officers in Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. Richards formed a law firm with Rufus K. Williams, who had been chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court
Kentucky Supreme Court
The Kentucky Supreme Court was created by a 1975 constitutional amendment and is the state supreme court of the commonwealth of Kentucky. Prior to that the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky...
, in 1879. They served as the primary legal counsel seeking to prevent the denial of the franchise
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
to the women of the Utah Territory in 1880.
Richards' wife, Emily S. Richards, was one of the main figures behind the founding of the Utah Women's Suffrage Association in 1889.
Richards was a member of the 1882 Utah State Constitutional Convention and was one of the delegates sent to seek the approval of the State Constitution in Washington, D.C. In 1884 Richards was elected to the Council (roughly equivalent to a State Senate) of the Utah Territorial Legislature, for the district encompassing Weber Count
Weber County, Utah
Weber County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah, occupying a stretch of the Wasatch Front, part of the eastern shores of Great Salt Lake, and much of the rugged Wasatch Mountains. As of the 2000 census, the population was 196,533, an increase of 24.1% over its population in 1990. By...
and Box Elder County
Box Elder County, Utah
Box Elder County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It lies on the north end of the Great Salt Lake, covering a large area north to the Idaho border and west to the Nevada border. Included in this area are large tracts of barren desert, contrasted by high, forested mountains. The...
. Richards replaced Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:...
who had served in this specific sea since 1854. Richards only served one term in this position. Richards was a member of the 1895 Utah State Constitutional Convention.
Among other cases, Richards was the legal counsel for Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow
Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:...
in his case before the United States Supreme Court in which a complex scheme was overturned which would have given men essentially life sentences for unlawful cohabitation under the Edmunds Act
Edmunds Act
The Edmunds Act, also known as the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882, is a United States federal statute, signed into law on March 23, 1882, declaring polygamy a felony. The act is named for U.S. Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont...
, based on ingenious definitions of separate incidents of breaking the law.
At various times Richards served as city attorney for both Ogden and Salt Lake City. He was also the prosecuting attorney for Weber County, Utah
Weber County, Utah
Weber County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah, occupying a stretch of the Wasatch Front, part of the eastern shores of Great Salt Lake, and much of the rugged Wasatch Mountains. As of the 2000 census, the population was 196,533, an increase of 24.1% over its population in 1990. By...
and served on the Legislative Council of Utah.
Richards was a delegate at the 1895 Utah State Constitutional Convention, where he was one of the main advocates for women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
.
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society is an organization of lawyers and law school students consisting of over 65 professional and 125 student chapters throughout the world. It is named in honor of J. Reuben Clark the former Ambassador to Mexico and Under Secretary of State. Although alumni and...
has an award named after Richards.