Born in Franklin County, Indiana to a prominent local family, Hanna worked on the family farm throughout his childhood. Despite having only a few months of formal education, Hanna was a voracious reader. Following an apprenticeship in Brookville, Hanna gained his license to practice law in 1841 and moved to Bowling Green.[1][2]
Judicial service, political career, and later lifeedit
After leaving the state senate, Hanna moved to Terre Haute in 1854 to set up a private law practice. In 1856, he was elected as a judge of the Vigo County Circuit Court. He left the position in 1857, when he was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court on December 10, 1857, by GovernorAshbel P. Willard to succeed the retiring Justice Samuel Gookins. In 1858, Hanna was elected to serve a full term on the bench, defeating William D. Griswold (also from Terre Haute) in the election. Hanna's most notable opinion came in the case of State ex rel. Board of Commissioners of Sinking Fund v. Ristine, one of two cases concerning whether Indiana State Auditor Joseph Ristine had the right to refuse orders from Governor Oliver P. Morton to make an interest payment on the state debt in lieu of the General Assembly approving appropriations measures before adjourning. Following conflicting rulings in the Marion County Circuit Court, the Supreme Court sided with Ristine in both cases and affirmed his right to refuse Governor Morton's orders to make the payment. Hanna wrote the majority of opinion of the court in one case and Justice Samuel E. Perkins wrote the majority opinion in the other. In 1864, Hanna and other Democratic justices on the Supreme Court lost their races for re-election following an electoral sweep by Governor Morton and state Republicans. Hanna left the court in 1865, succeeded by Justice Robert Gregory.[1][2]
Following his time on the Supreme Court, Hanna served briefly as the political editor for the prominent Democratic newspaper, the Indianapolis Sentinel (today known as The Indianapolis Star). During the Civil War, Hanna was sympathetic to the Confederacy despite living in the North. Hanna returned to politics in 1868 when he was re-elected to the state senate, representing Sullivan and Clay counties. His return to the state senate was brief, however—he resigned in 1869 when senators began to debate over ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave African-American men the right to vote.[2]
Personal life and deathedit
Hanna married Elizabeth Susan Burton while living in Bowling Green. They had three children together, one son and two daughters.[2]
Hanna spent much of his retirement on his large farm in Curryville, an unincorporated community near Terre Haute. Sullivan County's first underground coal mine was opened on Hanna's land. Hanna died on his farm on January 15, 1872.[1][2]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeMinde C. Browning, Richard Humphrey, and Bruce Kleinschmidt, "Biographical Sketches of Indiana Supreme Court Justices", Indiana Law Review, Vol. 30, No. 1 (1997), section reproduced in Indiana Courts Justice Biographies page.
^ abcdefWilliams, James (2010). Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court. Indiana Historical Society. pp. 61–63. ISBN978-0871952882. Retrieved Jan 21, 2022.
james, hanna, judge, james, mclean, hanna, october, 1816, january, 1872, american, politician, lawyer, judge, from, state, indiana, served, indiana, state, senate, justice, indiana, supreme, court, james, hannajustice, indiana, supreme, courtin, office, decemb. James McLean Hanna October 25 1816 January 15 1872 1 was an American politician lawyer and judge from the state of Indiana who served in the Indiana State Senate and as a Justice on the Indiana Supreme Court James HannaJustice of the Indiana Supreme CourtIn office December 10 1857 January 3 1865Appointed byAshbel P WillardPreceded bySamuel GookinsSucceeded byRobert Gregory Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Judicial service political career and later life 1 3 Personal life and death 2 ReferencesBiography editEarly life and education edit Born in Franklin County Indiana to a prominent local family Hanna worked on the family farm throughout his childhood Despite having only a few months of formal education Hanna was a voracious reader Following an apprenticeship in Brookville Hanna gained his license to practice law in 1841 and moved to Bowling Green 1 2 Judicial service political career and later life edit A Democrat Hanna first became involved in Indiana politics after he was appointed Governor James Whitcomb s personal secretary Hanna served as a prosecuting attorney in the state s Seventh Circuit Court from 1844 to 1846 Hanna ran for a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives but was defeated He was later elected to serve in the Indiana Senate from 1849 to 1852 representing Clay Sullivan and Vigo counties 1 2 After leaving the state senate Hanna moved to Terre Haute in 1854 to set up a private law practice In 1856 he was elected as a judge of the Vigo County Circuit Court He left the position in 1857 when he was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court on December 10 1857 by Governor Ashbel P Willard to succeed the retiring Justice Samuel Gookins In 1858 Hanna was elected to serve a full term on the bench defeating William D Griswold also from Terre Haute in the election Hanna s most notable opinion came in the case of State ex rel Board of Commissioners of Sinking Fund v Ristine one of two cases concerning whether Indiana State Auditor Joseph Ristine had the right to refuse orders from Governor Oliver P Morton to make an interest payment on the state debt in lieu of the General Assembly approving appropriations measures before adjourning Following conflicting rulings in the Marion County Circuit Court the Supreme Court sided with Ristine in both cases and affirmed his right to refuse Governor Morton s orders to make the payment Hanna wrote the majority of opinion of the court in one case and Justice Samuel E Perkins wrote the majority opinion in the other In 1864 Hanna and other Democratic justices on the Supreme Court lost their races for re election following an electoral sweep by Governor Morton and state Republicans Hanna left the court in 1865 succeeded by Justice Robert Gregory 1 2 Following his time on the Supreme Court Hanna served briefly as the political editor for the prominent Democratic newspaper the Indianapolis Sentinel today known as The Indianapolis Star During the Civil War Hanna was sympathetic to the Confederacy despite living in the North Hanna returned to politics in 1868 when he was re elected to the state senate representing Sullivan and Clay counties His return to the state senate was brief however he resigned in 1869 when senators began to debate over ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the U S Constitution which gave African American men the right to vote 2 Personal life and death edit Hanna married Elizabeth Susan Burton while living in Bowling Green They had three children together one son and two daughters 2 Hanna spent much of his retirement on his large farm in Curryville an unincorporated community near Terre Haute Sullivan County s first underground coal mine was opened on Hanna s land Hanna died on his farm on January 15 1872 1 2 References edit a b c d e Minde C Browning Richard Humphrey and Bruce Kleinschmidt Biographical Sketches of Indiana Supreme Court Justices Indiana Law Review Vol 30 No 1 1997 section reproduced in Indiana Courts Justice Biographies page a b c d e f Williams James 2010 Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court Indiana Historical Society pp 61 63 ISBN 978 0871952882 Retrieved Jan 21 2022 Political offices Preceded bySamuel Gookins Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court1857 1865 Succeeded byRobert Gregory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Hanna judge amp oldid 1129001293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
