Ogden Hoffman Jr.

Ogden Hoffman Jr. (October 16, 1822 – August 9, 1891) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of California, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Ogden Hoffman Jr.
Reproduction of 1893 portrait on display at United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office August 5, 1886 – August 9, 1891
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 24 Stat. 308
Succeeded by	William W. Morrow
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of California
In office July 27, 1866 – August 5, 1886
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 14 Stat. 300
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office August 31, 1852 – January 18, 1854
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 10 Stat. 76
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office February 27, 1851 – July 27, 1866
Appointed by	Millard Fillmore
Preceded by	Seat established by 9 Stat. 521
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Ogden Hoffman Jr. (1822-10-16)October 16, 1822 New York City, US
Died	August 9, 1891(1891-08-09) (aged 68) San Francisco, California, US
Resting place	Mount Tamalpais Cemetery San Rafael, California
Parent(s)	Ogden Hoffman Emily (Burrall) Hoffman
Relatives	Josiah Ogden Hoffman (grandfather)
Education	Columbia University (A.B.) Harvard Law School (LL.B.)
Occupation	Attorney

Early life

Hoffman was born in New York City on October 16, 1822.^[1] He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1840 from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1842.^[2] He entered private practice in New York City in 1842, and from 1844 to 1850. From 1842 to 1844, he studied in Paris, where he acquired a working knowledge of French and several other languages.^[1] He continued private practice in San Francisco, California, from 1850 to 1851.^[3]

Federal judicial service

San Francisco Call, December 19, 1893.

Hoffman was nominated by President Millard Fillmore on February 1, 1851, to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California authorized by 9 Stat. 521.^[3] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27, 1851, and received his commission the same day.^[3] He was assigned by operation of law to additional and concurrent service to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on August 31, 1852, authorized by 10 Stat. 76.^[3] His service in the Southern District terminated on January 18, 1854.^[3]

On July 27, 1866, Hoffman was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the District of California, confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a new seat authorized by 14 Stat. 300.^[3] Hoffman was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on August 5, 1886, to a new seat authorized by 24 Stat. 308.^[3]

Hoffman's judicial service terminated on August 9, 1891, due to his death in San Francisco.^[3] He was succeeded by Judge William W. Morrow.^[3] At the time of his death, he was the last federal judge in active service to have been appointed by President Fillmore, and the longest-serving on the bench.

Death and burial

Hoffman died in San Francisco on August 9, 1891.^[4] He was interred at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael, California.^[4]

Family

Hoffman was son of Ogden Hoffman and Emily (Burrall) Hoffman.^[5] He was the grandson of Josiah Ogden Hoffman (1766–1837), the New York Attorney General from 1795 to 1802.^[5]

Hoffman never married, and had no children.^[6]

See also

• List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

References

1. Shuck, Oscar Tully (1901). History of the Bench and Bar of California. Los Angeles, CA: Commercial Printing House. p. 472 – via Google Books.
2. Harvard University (1890). Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates of Harvard University. Cambridge, MA: University Press. p. 262 – via Google Books.
3. Ogden Hoffman Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
4. Blatchford, Samuel A. (1894). United States Courts of Appeals Reports (Ninth Circuit). Vol. 7. New York, NY: Banks and Brothers. pp. 693–694 – via Google Books.
5. Fritz, Christian G. (1991). Federal Justice in California: The Court of Ogden Hoffman, 1851-1891. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. pp. 1–3. ISBN 978-0-8032-1979-3.
6. Cahan, Richard; Hinckle, Pia; Royer Ocken, Jessica (2013). The Court that Tamed the West: From the Gold Rush to the Tech Boom. Berkeley, CA: Heyday. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-5971-4246-5 – via Scribd.

Sources

• Ogden Hoffman Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Seat established by 9 Stat. 521	Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California 1851–1866	Succeeded by Seat abolished
Preceded by Seat established by 10 Stat. 76	Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California 1852–1854
Preceded by Seat established by 14 Stat. 300	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of California 1866–1886
Preceded by Seat established by 24 Stat. 308	Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California 1886–1891	Succeeded by William W. Morrow