George E. Hinman
Encyclopedia
George Elijah Hinman was an American lawyer
and politician
from the state
of Connecticut
. He was a Republican
.
Hinman was born in Alford, Massachusetts
in 1870 to William C. and Mary A. Gates Hinman. Hinman's family was from Connecticut: his father from Litchfield County
and his mother from Norwich
. Hinnman graduated from high school in Great Barrington, Massachusetts
in 1888, and became a newspaperman
, working at the Berkshire Courier, published in Great Barrington, as reporter and advertising manager and later as local editor.
Hinman settled in Connecticut and became city editor
of the Willimantic Daily Herald. In 1892, he became editor of the Willimantic Journal. He left the Journal in 1895 in order to study law: He studied under William A. King in Willimantic and in 1897 and 1898 took a special course at the Yale Law School
, where he won the Thompson Prize for scholastic achievement.
In 1899 Hinman was admitted to the bar
in Connecticut. On September 26, 1899, of that year, he married Nettie P. Williams of Willimantic, who died June 14, 1932.
Hinman was active in the Republican Party and served as secretary of the state central committee
from 1902 to 1914. From 1899 until 1915, he served as a clerk in seven biennial sessions of the Connecticut General Assembly
, beginning as assistant clerk of the House of Representatives
and becoming clerk of the House in 1901 and clerk of the Senate
in 1903. Hinman was appointed assistant clerk of the state constitutional convention of 1902. In the 1905, 1907 and 1911 sessions he was clerk of bills
and in the session of 1909 engrossing clerk. In these positions he drafted legislation.
In 1914, Hinman received the Republican nomination for Connecticut Attorney General
, serving in that post from 1915 to 1918. On February 13, 1919, he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court
for an eight-year term beginning the following August 23. On February 19, 1925, he was appointed an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors
, the state supreme court
, effective February 26, 1926. Hinnman served on the Court until May 7, 1940, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. After leaving the bench Hinnman served as a state referee
until shortly his death in 1961.
He was interred at Old Willimantic Cemetery in Windham. Hinman had two children: Russell William, who became a paper manufacturer in Penacook, New Hampshire
, and Virginia Gates Allen, with Hinman lived with until his death.
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
and politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Hinman was born in Alford, Massachusetts
Alford, Massachusetts
Alford is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 494 at the 2010 census.- History :...
in 1870 to William C. and Mary A. Gates Hinman. Hinman's family was from Connecticut: his father from Litchfield County
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
and his mother from Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
. Hinnman graduated from high school in Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,104 at the 2010 census. Both a summer resort and home to Ski Butternut, Great Barrington includes the villages of Van...
in 1888, and became a newspaperman
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, working at the Berkshire Courier, published in Great Barrington, as reporter and advertising manager and later as local editor.
Hinman settled in Connecticut and became city editor
City editor
A city editor is a title used by a particular section editor of a newspaper. They are responsible for the daily changes of a particular issue of a newspaper that will be released in the coming day...
of the Willimantic Daily Herald. In 1892, he became editor of the Willimantic Journal. He left the Journal in 1895 in order to study law: He studied under William A. King in Willimantic and in 1897 and 1898 took a special course at the Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, where he won the Thompson Prize for scholastic achievement.
In 1899 Hinman was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in Connecticut. On September 26, 1899, of that year, he married Nettie P. Williams of Willimantic, who died June 14, 1932.
Hinman was active in the Republican Party and served as secretary of the state central committee
Connecticut Republican Party
The Connecticut Republican Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the U.S. Republican Party. Jerry Labriola Jr., a Wallingford attorney and 2010 candidate for Congress, is the party chairman, elected on June 28, 2011. Prior to his election as chairman, Labriola served as the party's...
from 1902 to 1914. From 1899 until 1915, he served as a clerk in seven biennial sessions of the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
, beginning as assistant clerk of the House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
and becoming clerk of the House in 1901 and clerk of the Senate
Connecticut Senate
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 94,600 inhabitants. Senators are elected to two-year terms without term limits...
in 1903. Hinman was appointed assistant clerk of the state constitutional convention of 1902. In the 1905, 1907 and 1911 sessions he was clerk of bills
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
and in the session of 1909 engrossing clerk. In these positions he drafted legislation.
In 1914, Hinman received the Republican nomination for Connecticut Attorney General
Connecticut Attorney General
The Connecticut Attorney General is the state attorney general of Connecticut.The Attorney General is elected to a four-year term. The current Attorney General is George Jepsen, a Democrat serving since January 5, 2011.-List of Attorneys General:...
, serving in that post from 1915 to 1918. On February 13, 1919, he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court
Connecticut Superior Court
The Connecticut Superior Court is the Connecticut state trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears all matters other than those heard by the Connecticut Probate Courts...
for an eight-year term beginning the following August 23. On February 19, 1925, he was appointed an associate justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors
Connecticut Supreme Court
The Connecticut Supreme Court, formerly known as the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, is the highest court in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven justices sit in Hartford, across the street from the Connecticut State Capitol...
, the state supreme court
State supreme court
In the United States, the state supreme court is the highest state court in the state court system ....
, effective February 26, 1926. Hinnman served on the Court until May 7, 1940, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. After leaving the bench Hinnman served as a state referee
Special referee
In law, a special referee acts as a judge on matters of fact only.-Explanation:In many instances, the interpretation of the specific statutes or case law relevant to a dispute is absolutely clear. The uncertainty between the parties lies in the facts. Hence, a special referee is an expert in the...
until shortly his death in 1961.
He was interred at Old Willimantic Cemetery in Windham. Hinman had two children: Russell William, who became a paper manufacturer in Penacook, New Hampshire
Penacook, New Hampshire
Penacook, originally called "Fisherville", is a village within the city of Concord in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. It lies along Concord's northern border with Boscawen. The name comes from the Pennacook tribe that lived in the area...
, and Virginia Gates Allen, with Hinman lived with until his death.
External links
- Profile from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
- Profile from the Connecticut Attorney General's OfficeConnecticut Attorney GeneralThe Connecticut Attorney General is the state attorney general of Connecticut.The Attorney General is elected to a four-year term. The current Attorney General is George Jepsen, a Democrat serving since January 5, 2011.-List of Attorneys General:...
- Obituary printed in the Connecticut Reports, volume 148, pages 737-740