Elwyn Thomas
Encyclopedia
Elwyn Thomas was a Florida
judge
, and a Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
from 1938 to 1969.
College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida
where he received his LL.B degree in 1915. He was admitted to law practice in Florida the same year. He began his practice in DeLand
and later moved to Fort Pierce
. In 1917, he became the prosecuting attorney for St. Lucie County
. Two years later, he served as the City Attorney for both Vero Beach
(1919–1923) and Fort Pierce (1919–1925). On June 14, 1924, he married Eva Banes. In 1925, he became the 21st Circuit Court Judge for St. Lucie County, a position he held for ten years.
From 1935-1936, he was the president of the Fort Pierce/St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce. From 1935 to 1938, he also served as Senior Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit. In 1938, he was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court
as an Associate Justice and he served on Florida's high court for 31 years. From 1947 to 1949 and from 1959 to 1961, he served as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Stetson University
awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1951.
Justice Thomas was instrumental in creation of the Florida District Courts of Appeal
, lobbying for their establishment in 1957.
Freemasonry
Phi Alpha Delta
Law Fraternity
Rotary Club of Tallahassee
Sigma Nu
Fraternity
Vero Beach Yacht Club
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, and a Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
from 1938 to 1969.
Brief Biography
Elwyn Thomas was born in Eldred, Florida, a small community in St. Lucie County named after his mother's family, on July 5, 1894, to Hal S. Thomas and Julia E. Thomas. He attended Stetson UniversityStetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. In the 2012 U.S...
College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
where he received his LL.B degree in 1915. He was admitted to law practice in Florida the same year. He began his practice in DeLand
DeLand, Florida
DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, Florida. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 24,375. It is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 436,575 in 2006...
and later moved to Fort Pierce
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
. In 1917, he became the prosecuting attorney for St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County, Florida
St. Lucie County is a county located in the state of Florida. The county seat is the city of Fort Pierce. In the year 2000, the population was 192,695. As of the year 2010, the United States Census Bureau sets the population at 277,789.- History :...
. Two years later, he served as the City Attorney for both Vero Beach
Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
(1919–1923) and Fort Pierce (1919–1925). On June 14, 1924, he married Eva Banes. In 1925, he became the 21st Circuit Court Judge for St. Lucie County, a position he held for ten years.
From 1935-1936, he was the president of the Fort Pierce/St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce. From 1935 to 1938, he also served as Senior Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit. In 1938, he was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
as an Associate Justice and he served on Florida's high court for 31 years. From 1947 to 1949 and from 1959 to 1961, he served as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Stetson University
Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. In the 2012 U.S...
awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1951.
Justice Thomas was instrumental in creation of the Florida District Courts of Appeal
Florida District Courts of Appeal
The Florida District Courts of Appeal are the intermediate appellate courts of the Florida state court system. There are five DCAs:*The First District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Tallahassee...
, lobbying for their establishment in 1957.
Organizations/affiliations
Florida Bar AssociationFreemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
- past Master of Ft. Pierce Lodge No. 87
Phi Alpha Delta
Phi Alpha Delta
ΦAΔ , or P.A.D., is the largest co-ed professional law fraternity in the United States of America. Phi Alpha Delta has members who are university students, law school students, lawyers, judges, senators, and even presidents. It was founded in 1902 and today has over 300,000 initiated members...
Law Fraternity
- Member, David Brewer Chapter, since April 2, 1915
- District Justice, 1954
- Supreme Vice Justice, 1954-1956
- Supreme Justice, 1956-1958
- Chair, Supreme Advisory Board, 1958-1960
Rotary Club of Tallahassee
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
Fraternity
Vero Beach Yacht Club
- charter member, 1926