Thompson, the son of Alonzo and Sarah (Edwards) Thompson, was born Christmas Day in 1887 on a farm in Roodhouse, Illinois. Thompson worked on the family farm while he was in school; after graduation, he spent three years working as a teacher.
Thompson never attended university or law school, but he studied for the bar examination on his own, and in 1911, he was admitted to the bar of Tennessee and Illinois. He established a law practice in East Moline, Illinois, and also became publisher of the East Moline Herald. In November 1912, he won election as State's attorney for Rock Island County, Illinois. He was elected president of the Illinois State's Attorney's Association in December 1915, and easily won re-election as State's Attorney in November 1916.
In 1919, a vacancy arose on the Supreme Court of Illinois when Justice George A. Cooke stepped down to become chief counsel of Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, and Thompson ran for this seat, winning election in April 1919. In June 1921, he won re-election to a full term. Thompson served on the Illinois Supreme Court until 1928, during which time he served as chairman of the American Bar Association's Section of Criminal Law (1921–1923) and as vice-president of the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology. He was a charter member of the American Law Institute upon its founding in 1923.
Upon his defeat, Thompson became a partner at Newman, Poppenhusen, Stern & Johnston, with the firm changing its name to Johnston, Thompson, & Raymond (today, the firm is known as Jenner & Block). During his time at the firm, Thompson served as lead counsel in what was arguably the most sensational prosecution of the Great Depression era, that of Samuel Insull, the president of Commonwealth Edison, whose share price had collapsed in 1929, wiping out the life savings of thousands of small investors. Insull was charged with mail fraud, antitrust violations, and violation of the Bankruptcy Act of 1898. There were ultimately three trials, and Insull was acquitted each time.
In 1949, during the prosecution of Preston Tucker (developer of the 1948 Tucker Sedan) and six Tucker Corporation executives for violating the securities laws, Thompson defended Floyd Cerf, the stockbroker who handled the allegedly illegal stockoffering for Tucker Corporation. Tucker, Cerf, and all the other defendants were ultimately acquitted on all charges.
Referencesedit
Profile at "The Third Branch – A Profile of the Illinois Supreme Court"
floyd, thompson, lawyer, floyd, thompson, december, 1887, october, 1960, justice, supreme, court, illinois, criminal, lawyer, defended, american, businessman, samuel, insull, 1934, against, mail, fraud, antitrust, charges, insull, acquitted, floyd, thompsonpho. Floyd E Thompson December 25 1887 October 18 1960 was a justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois and a criminal lawyer who defended American businessman Samuel Insull in 1934 against mail fraud and antitrust charges Insull was acquitted Floyd ThompsonPhotograph of Thompson during his time as a justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois Justice of the Supreme Court of IllinoisIn office April 1 1919 1919 04 01 1928 1928 Preceded byGeorge A CookeSucceeded byWilliam M FarmerPersonal detailsBorn 1887 12 25 December 25 1887Roodhouse IllinoisDiedOctober 18 1960 1960 10 18 aged 72 Political partyDemocratParent s Alonzo and Sarah nee Edwards ThompsonOccupationCriminal lawyerpublisher East Moline HeraldCabinetPresident Illinois State Bar Association 1933 34 Vice president American Institute of Criminal Law and CriminologyCommitteesChairman American Bar Association s Section of Criminal Law 1921 1923 Charter member American Law InstituteBiography editThompson the son of Alonzo and Sarah Edwards Thompson was born Christmas Day in 1887 on a farm in Roodhouse Illinois Thompson worked on the family farm while he was in school after graduation he spent three years working as a teacher Thompson never attended university or law school but he studied for the bar examination on his own and in 1911 he was admitted to the bar of Tennessee and Illinois He established a law practice in East Moline Illinois and also became publisher of the East Moline Herald In November 1912 he won election as State s attorney for Rock Island County Illinois He was elected president of the Illinois State s Attorney s Association in December 1915 and easily won re election as State s Attorney in November 1916 In 1919 a vacancy arose on the Supreme Court of Illinois when Justice George A Cooke stepped down to become chief counsel of Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company and Thompson ran for this seat winning election in April 1919 In June 1921 he won re election to a full term Thompson served on the Illinois Supreme Court until 1928 during which time he served as chairman of the American Bar Association s Section of Criminal Law 1921 1923 and as vice president of the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology He was a charter member of the American Law Institute upon its founding in 1923 In 1928 Thompson resigned from the Illinois Supreme Court to run for governor of Illinois on the Democratic ticket He lost to Louis Lincoln Emmerson as part of the landslide 1928 victory of Herbert Hoover and the Republicans Upon his defeat Thompson became a partner at Newman Poppenhusen Stern amp Johnston with the firm changing its name to Johnston Thompson amp Raymond today the firm is known as Jenner amp Block During his time at the firm Thompson served as lead counsel in what was arguably the most sensational prosecution of the Great Depression era that of Samuel Insull the president of Commonwealth Edison whose share price had collapsed in 1929 wiping out the life savings of thousands of small investors Insull was charged with mail fraud antitrust violations and violation of the Bankruptcy Act of 1898 There were ultimately three trials and Insull was acquitted each time He was president of the Illinois State Bar Association 1933 34 In 1949 during the prosecution of Preston Tucker developer of the 1948 Tucker Sedan and six Tucker Corporation executives for violating the securities laws Thompson defended Floyd Cerf the stockbroker who handled the allegedly illegal stock offering for Tucker Corporation Tucker Cerf and all the other defendants were ultimately acquitted on all charges References editProfile at The Third Branch A Profile of the Illinois Supreme Court History of Jenner amp Block on Jenner amp Block s website Party political offices Preceded byNorman L Jones Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois1928 Succeeded byHenry Horner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Floyd Thompson lawyer amp oldid 1201676938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
