Ira F. Thompson

Ira Francis Thompson (June 20, 1885 – August 4, 1937) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from December 31, 1932, to August 4, 1937.

Ira Francis Thompson
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office
December 31, 1932 – August 4, 1937
Appointed byGovernor James Rolph, Jr.
Preceded byJohn E. Richards
Succeeded byFrederick W. Houser
Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Two
In office
October 5, 1926 – December 30, 1932
Appointed byGovernor Friend Richardson
Succeeded byAlbert Lee Stephens Sr.
Personal details
Born(1885-06-20)June 20, 1885
Crawford County, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedAugust 4, 1937(1937-08-04) (aged 52)
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Cora Hilda Manning
​
(m. 1910)​
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (A.B., LL.B.)

Early years

Born on a farm in Crawford County, Wisconsin, to James Franklin Thompson and Minerva Julia Drake, Thompson lost his father and mother when he was a child.[1] At the age of 15, he moved to Eureka, California to begin high school, from which he graduated in 1904. After school, he worked part-time running errands at his uncle's newspaper, the Humboldt Standard.[2]

Thompson studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he paid his own school fees and finished a six-year law curriculum in four years, receiving both an A.B. and LL.B. degree in 1909.[3][4] On July 2, 1909, he was admitted to the State Bar of California.[5]

Career

After graduation, Thompson worked in Oakland for a year for the firm of Reed, Black & Reed. Then Thompson moved to Los Angeles and began private practice with John F. Manning in the firm of Manning, Thompson & Hoover.[6] Thompson immersed himself in civic causes and Republican Party politics.

In 1920, Thompson ran unsuccessfully on the Republican ticket for the position of judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.[6][7][8] During the campaign, he gave a speech to the Sons of America opposing citizenship for Japanese immigrants.[9][10] In 1923, Governor Friend Richardson appointed him a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.[11]

In October 1926, Governor Friend Richardson elevated Thompson to the position of Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second District.[12] He was re-elected to this office. In Summer 1928, he lectured on ethics at the University of Southern California.[13]

On December 8, 1932, Governor James Rolph, Jr. appointed Thompson to the California Supreme Court to fill the vacant seat due to the death of John E. Richards.[14] Thompson began his term on December 31, 1932, and the term expired January 1, 1935.[15] To fill Thompson's seat on the Court of Appeal, Governor Rolph appointed Judge Albert Lee Stephens Sr. of the Los Angeles Superior Court to the position.[16] In November 1934, Thompson ran for re-election as a Republican and won a 12-year term.[17][18]

Death

On August 4, 1937, Thompson died while in office. Rolph filled the vacancy with the appointment of Frederick W. Houser to the Supreme Court.

Personal life

While at UC Berkeley, he met his future wife, Cora Hilda Manning.[19] On June 1, 1910, they married and together had two children: Elizabeth and John.[20][21]

Judicial experience
  • Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, September 1, 1923 – October 4, 1926
  • Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Two, October 5, 1926 – December 30, 1932
  • Associate Justice, California Supreme Court, December 31, 1932 – August 4, 1937

Professional background

References
  1. Johnson, J. Edward (1966). History of the California Supreme Court: The Justices 1900-1950, vol 2 (PDF). San Francisco, CA: Bancroft-Whitney. pp. 46–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  2. "Thompson, Friend of the Press". Sausalito News (32). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 10 August 1934. p. 2. Retrieved August 11, 2017. This editor has known Ira Thompson since school days in Eureka where the present eminent jurist did his first work in the office of the old Humboldt Standard. Outside of school hours he practically 'lived' in the newspaper shop doing all sorts of jobs such as any youngster is put to whose uncle is a newspaper publisher.
  3. Register - University of California, Volume 2. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1936. p. 17. Retrieved August 11, 2017. Council of the Alumni Association, Ira F. Thompson, B.L., 1909.
  4. Bench and Bar of Los Angeles County. Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles Daily Journal. 1922. p. 36. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  5. "Twelve New Disciples of Blackstone Licensed". San Francisco Call. 106 (34). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 July 1909. p. 30. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  6. "Enters Judicial Race". Los Angeles Herald (208). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 1 July 1920. p. A13. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  7. The Grizzly Bear Magazine, Volume 27. Grizzly Bear Publishing Company. July 1920. p. 24. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  8. "Thanks Herald for Aid in Campaign". Los Angeles Herald (5). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 November 1920. p. B1. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  9. "Post Will Discuss Jap Problem Tonight". Los Angeles Herald (247). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 16 August 1920. p. A12. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  10. "Declares Japanese Are Unassimilative". Los Angeles Herald (248). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 17 August 1920. p. B1. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  11. "The Core, No More". Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar (24). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 30 August 1923. p. 4. Retrieved August 10, 2017. Ira F. Thompson, one of the six newly appointed superior judges, by Governor Richardson
  12. "Brother of Local Woman Appointed To Appellate Bench". Healdsburg Tribune (269). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 October 1926. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  13. "Summer Quarter Courses Planned". Daily Trojan. 19 (114). University of Southern California. April 17, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017. Ethics, Judge Ira F. Thompson, 2 units
  14. "Rolph Elevates Judge Thompson". Healdsburg Tribune (32). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 December 1932. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  15. "Newest Justice". Healdsburg Tribune (57). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 11 January 1933. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017. Photo of Ira F. Thompson
  16. "Appointed to the Supreme Court". Madera Tribune (47). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 December 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  17. "Four County Offices Face Run Off in November Election as Six Win Out by Primary Vote". Sausalito News (35). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 31 August 1934. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  18. "Politix". Sausalito News (33). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 17 August 1934. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  19. "Society, Charming Bride of Last Week Who Had College Romance, Mrs. Ira F. Thompson". Los Angeles Herald. 37 (247). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 June 1910. p. 8. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  20. "Society". Los Angeles Herald (115). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 24 January 1909. p. 1. Retrieved August 11, 2017. Engagement announcement
  21. "Alexander Valley News". Healdsburg Tribune (200). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 July 1933. p. 3. Retrieved August 11, 2017. Mrs. W. E. Powell had as her holiday guests her brother and wife, Judge and Mrs. Ira Thompson, and daughter and son, Betty and John, of Berkeley.

See also
Legal offices
Preceded by
John E. Richards		 Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
1932–1937		 Succeeded by
Frederick W. Houser
Preceded by
 Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Two
1926–1932		 Succeeded by
Albert Lee Stephens Sr.
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