John Erskine (judge)

John Erskine (September 13, 1813 – January 27, 1895) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.

John Erskine
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
In office July 10, 1865 – December 1, 1883
Appointed by	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	John Cochran Nicoll
Succeeded by	Emory Speer
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
In office July 10, 1865 – April 25, 1882
Appointed by	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	John Cochran Nicoll
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	John Erskine (1813-09-13)September 13, 1813 Strabane, Ireland
Died	January 27, 1895(1895-01-27) (aged 81) Atlanta, Georgia
Education	read law
Signature

Education and career

Born on September 13, 1813, in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, Erskine read law in 1846. He entered private practice in Florida from 1846 to 1855. He continued private practice in Newnan, Georgia starting in 1855, and in Atlanta, Georgia until 1865.^[1]

Federal judicial service

Erksine received a recess appointment from President Andrew Johnson on July 10, 1865, to a joint seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia vacated by Judge John Cochran Nicoll. He was nominated to the same position by President Johnson on December 20, 1865. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 1866, and received his commission the same day. He was reassigned to serve only in the Southern District on April 25, 1882. His service terminated on December 1, 1883, due to his retirement.^[1]

Death

Erskine died on January 27, 1895, in Atlanta.^[1] The following year, the Erskine Memorial Fountain, the first public fountain in Atlanta, was dedicated in his honor. The fountain is today located in Grant Park.^[2]

References

1. John Erskine at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. Lee, Conor (August 12, 2014). "The Erskine Memorial Fountain". History Atlanta. Retrieved March 21, 2020.

Sources

• John Erskine at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by John Cochran Nicoll	Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia 1865–1882	Succeeded by Seat abolished
	Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia 1865–1883	Succeeded by Emory Speer