William Henry Hunt (judge)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Hunt was a state and federal judge and a territorial governor of Puerto Rico
.
in 1857. He did not go to a law school, but instead read law in 1880 and immediately began a private practice at Fort Benton
in the Montana Territory
. In a year, he was supplementing his private practice with a position as collector of customs for both the Idaho
and Montana Territories. He added yet another item to his professional plate as he was a member of the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1884. In 1885, he gave up his position a collector of customs to become attorney general of the Montana Territory. In 1887, he gave up both his private practice and his position as territorial attorney general.
When Montana
became a state in 1889, Hunt briefly served as a member of the state legislature before becoming a judge of the First Montana State Judicial District later that year. In 1894, he was promoted to Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
.
to be the Secretary of Puerto Rico. A year later, he was promoted to the Governorship of Puerto Rico, succeeding Charles Herbert Allen
. Hunt served as Governor of Puerto Rico for three years, from September 15, 1901 to July 4, 1904.
Theodore Roosevelt
appointed him to the bench of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
on April 14, 1904; Hunt was confirmed five days later. On March 30, 1910, Hunt became an associate judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals. Then, on December 12, 1910, Hunt was nominated by President William Howard Taft
to the newly created United States Commerce Court
. He was confirmed on January 31, 1911. The Commerce Court was abolished a little less than three years later, on December 13, 1913. Nonetheless, as a judge of the Commerce Court, Hunt was also an at-large judge of the United States courts of appeals
and remained in that position once the Commerce Court was abolished. The Chief Justice of the United States
, Edward Douglass White
, assigned Hunt to the Ninth Circuit
.
On January 31, 1928, Hunt, still assigned to the Ninth Circuit, assumed senior status
. Ten months later, Hunt retired from federal service on November 30, 1928. Hunt went back to private practice, this time in San Francisco, California
. He retired from his private practice in 1942. Hunt died in 1949.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Early law practice
Hunt was born in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in 1857. He did not go to a law school, but instead read law in 1880 and immediately began a private practice at Fort Benton
Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...
in the Montana Territory
Montana Territory
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
. In a year, he was supplementing his private practice with a position as collector of customs for both the Idaho
Idaho Territory
The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 4, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Idaho.-1860s:...
and Montana Territories. He added yet another item to his professional plate as he was a member of the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1884. In 1885, he gave up his position a collector of customs to become attorney general of the Montana Territory. In 1887, he gave up both his private practice and his position as territorial attorney general.
When Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
became a state in 1889, Hunt briefly served as a member of the state legislature before becoming a judge of the First Montana State Judicial District later that year. In 1894, he was promoted to Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
Montana Supreme Court
The Montana Supreme Court is the highest court of the Montana state court system in the U.S. state of Montana. It is established and its powers defined by Article VII of the 1972 Montana Constitution...
.
Secretary and Governor of Puerto Rico
In 1900, Hunt was appointed by President William McKinleyWilliam McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
to be the Secretary of Puerto Rico. A year later, he was promoted to the Governorship of Puerto Rico, succeeding Charles Herbert Allen
Charles Herbert Allen
Charles Herbert Allen was an American politician and businessman. His positions included serving in the United States House of Representatives and as governor of Puerto Rico.-Early life:...
. Hunt served as Governor of Puerto Rico for three years, from September 15, 1901 to July 4, 1904.
Federal judicial appointments
Hunt returned to his role as a judge when PresidentPresident 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....
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed him to the bench of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
United States District Court for the District of Montana
The United States District Court for the District of Montana is the United States District Court whose jurisdiction is the state of Montana...
on April 14, 1904; Hunt was confirmed five days later. On March 30, 1910, Hunt became an associate judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals. Then, on December 12, 1910, Hunt was nominated by President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
to the newly created United States Commerce Court
United States Commerce Court
The Commerce Court of the United States was a brief-lived federal trial court. It was created by the Mann-Elkins Act in 1910 and abolished a mere three years later. The Commerce Court was a specialized court, given jurisdiction over cases arising from orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission...
. He was confirmed on January 31, 1911. The Commerce Court was abolished a little less than three years later, on December 13, 1913. Nonetheless, as a judge of the Commerce Court, Hunt was also an at-large judge of the United States courts of appeals
United States courts of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
and remained in that position once the Commerce Court was abolished. The Chief Justice of the United States
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
, Edward Douglass White
Edward Douglass White
Edward Douglass White, Jr. , American politician and jurist, was a United States senator, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the ninth Chief Justice of the United States. He was best known for formulating the Rule of Reason standard of antitrust law. He also sided with the...
, assigned Hunt to the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
.
On January 31, 1928, Hunt, still assigned to the Ninth Circuit, assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. Ten months later, Hunt retired from federal service on November 30, 1928. Hunt went back to private practice, this time in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He retired from his private practice in 1942. Hunt died in 1949.