Charles Almon Dewey

Born in Washington, Iowa, Dewey attended Oberlin College in Ohio.[1] He was a Corporal in the United States Volunteers during the Spanish–American War. In 1901, he received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Iowa College of Law,[1] and entered private practice in Washington, Iowa.[2] He was city attorney of Washington from 1905 to 1909, and county attorney for Washington County, Iowa from 1909 to 1915.[2] From 1918 to 1928, he served as a state district court judge in Iowa's sixth judicial district.[1]

In 1927, a backlog of unresolved cases had developed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.[3] On January 19, 1928, President Calvin Coolidge signed into law a bill that authorized the appointment of a second judge to the Southern District of Iowa, with the proviso that when the existing judgeship becomes vacant, it shall not be filled unless authorized by Congress.[4]

Dewey was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on January 23, 1928, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, to a new seat authorized by 45 Stat. 52.[2] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 31, 1928, and received his commission the same day.[2] He assumed senior status on March 1, 1949.[2] As a senior judge, he was given temporary assignments three times, sitting by designation in St. Louis, Missouri, New York City, New York and Miami, Florida.[1] His service terminated on March 2, 1958, due to his death in Des Moines, Iowa.[2]

• The Charles A. Dewey Papers are housed at the University of Iowa Special Collections & University Archives.
• Charles Almon Dewey at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.