American judge (1862–1939) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emmett Seawell (April 5, 1862 – July 7, 1939) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from January 8, 1923, to July 7, 1939.
Emmett Seawell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court | |
| In office January 8, 1923 – July 7, 1939 | |
| Appointed by | Elected |
| Preceded by | Terry W. Ward |
| Succeeded by | Jesse W. Carter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 5, 1862 Yountville, California, U.S. |
| Died | July 7, 1939 (aged 77) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Ida S Graiter (m. 1892) |
| Alma mater | Pacific Methodist University |
Born in Yountville, California, Seawell was one of 11 children of California pioneers, William Neely Seawell and Sarah A. Rickman.[1][2] His father later served as Deputy Sheriff and then justice of the peace in Santa Rosa.[3] Emmett was educated in the public schools, and for three years after high school worked in the printing trade and for newspapers.[2] In 1887, he graduated from the Pacific Methodist College of Santa Rosa,[4][5] read law in the office of J.W. Oates, and was admitted to the California bar in 1890.[2]
Next, Seawell entered private practice with W. F. Cowan in Santa Rosa and held a series of public posts.[2] In 1892, he was elected District Attorney for Sonoma County, California.[6][7] In October 1898, he was nominated by the Democratic Party in the First District and ran unsuccessfully for United States Congress.[8][9][10] In 1902, he was elected to the position of Judge of the Superior Court for Sonoma County, a position he held until 1922.[11][12][13][14] In June 1911, he lent his courtroom to the Santa Rosa Equal Suffrage Association to hold its meeting for the right of women to vote.[15] In 1914 he was appointed pro-tem Judge of the Superior Court for Stanislaus County, a position he held until 1919.
In November 1922, Seawell was elected as a member of the Supreme Court of California, defeating Charles A. Shurtleff, whose term ended December 18, 1922.[16] Until Seawell was sworn in, Terry W. Ward filled the gap period as justice.[17] Seawell sat on the high court for nearly 17 years until his heart attack in the courtroom of the Supreme Court and death on July 7, 1939.[18][19][20] In August 1939, Governor Culbert L. Olson appointed Jesse W. Carter to fill Seawell's seat.[21]
On March 20, 1892, Seawell married Ida S. Graiter in Santa Rosa.[22]
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