Nathaniel P. Conrey

Nathaniel Parrish Conrey (June 30, 1860 – November 2, 1936) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from October 1, 1935, to November 2, 1936. His 36 years on the bench place him among the longest serving judges in California history.

Nathaniel Parrish Conrey
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office October 1, 1935 – November 2, 1936
Appointed by	Governor Frank Merriam
Preceded by	John W. Preston
Succeeded by	Douglas L. Edmonds
Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division One
In office October 26, 1913 – September 30, 1935
Appointed by	Governor Hiram Johnson
Preceded by	Matthew Thompson Allen
Succeeded by	Frederick W. Houser
Member of the California State Assembly from the 75th district
In office January 2, 1899 – January 1, 1901
Preceded by	John Cross
Succeeded by	Henry E. Carter
Personal details
Born	(1860-06-30)June 30, 1860 Mt. Carmel, Franklin County, Indiana, U.S.
Died	November 2, 1936(1936-11-02) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Ethelwyn Wells ​ (m. 1890)​
Alma mater	Indiana Asbury University (BA) DePauw University (MA) University of Michigan School of Law (LLB)

Biography

Conrey was born June 30, 1860, in Franklin County, Indiana to David La Rue and Hannah Jameson.^[1] He was raised in Shelbyville, Indiana, and educated in the public schools.^[1] He studied at Indiana Asbury University, receiving an A.B. degree in 1881 and a M.A. in 1884 from DePauw University. He continued his graduate education at the University of Michigan School of Law, graduating in 1883 with a LL.B.^[2]

In 1884, Conrey moved to California, was admitted to the bar, and entered private practice. From 1886 to 1887, he served as Pasadena City Attorney.^[1] He served on the Los Angeles City Board of Education from 1897 to 1898. He was elected as a Republican to the California State Assembly from the 75th district, serving in 1899 to 1900.^[3][1] In 1896, he was on the faculty at the University of Southern California as a professor of medical jurisprudence.^[4] In 1899, he was re-appointed as a trustee of the Los Angeles Normal School (which after 1919 was renamed the University of California, Los Angeles).^[5]

In 1900, Governor Henry Gage appointed Conrey as a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was elected in 1902,^[6] 1908,^[7][8] and again in 1910, serving three terms.^[9][10] On October 26, 1913, Governor Hiram Johnson appointed Conrey as Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division One, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Matthew T. Allen.^[11] In 1914, Conrey successfully ran for re-election.^[12][13]

Governor Frank Merriam appointed Conrey, at age 75, as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California, which position he held from October 1, 1935, to November 2, 1936.^[14]

On August 6, 1936, Conrey announced that he would resign from the supreme court, and would not stand for election that November.^[15] On September 14, Governor Frank Merriam selected Douglas L. Edmonds to stand in Conrey's place on the November ballot, and, two days later, he was seated as an associate justice pro tempore on the court.^[16][17] Conrey, who concluded his active service on the court in August, intended to officially resign once Edmonds was elected, but he died on November 2, the day before the election, from complications of the spinal cord injury that had prompted his resignation.^[18]

Personal life

On November 21, 1890, he married Ethelwyn Wells in Los Angeles.^[19] They had a son and two daughters: David W. Conrey, Olive Ethelwyn Conrey (Lindsey), and Maryline Conrey.^[1]

References

1. "Death Claims Judge Conrey". San Bernardino Sun. No. 43. California Digital Newspaper Collection. United Press. 3 November 1936. p. 4. Retrieved July 25, 2017. Illness forced him to retire from the bench several months ago.
2. Dockery, Robert P. (August 10, 1933). "Michigan Alumni Gather at National Bar Meeting". The Michigan Alumnus. 41: 495. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
3. "Los Angeles County". San Francisco Call. Vol. 84, no. 162. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 November 1898. p. 2. Retrieved July 25, 2017. N. P. Conrey, in the Seventy-fifth Republican.
4. "Received Their Diplomas". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 25, no. 247. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 June 1896. p. 5. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
5. "Gage Surprises the Politicians, Unexpected Appointments Made". San Francisco Call. Vol. 85, no. 162. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 11 May 1899. p. 3. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
6. "Republican Ticket". Los Angeles Herald. No. 18. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 20 October 1902. p. 7. Retrieved July 25, 2017. For Superior Judges, Nathaniel P. Conrey
7. "Election of Superior Judges—Explanation". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 36, no. 24. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 25 October 1908. p. 8. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
8. "County in Hands of GOP". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 36, no. 34. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 November 1908. p. 1. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
9. "Non-Partisan Judiciary Ticket". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 33, no. 31. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 1 November 1910. p. 11. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
10. "Make Regulations for Superior Court". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 36, no. 159. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 March 1909. p. 8. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
11. "Judge Nathaniel P. Conrey, State Court Candidate". Los Angeles Herald. No. 125. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 27 March 1914. p. 12. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
12. "Democratic Endorsements". Eagle Rock Sentinel. No. 9. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 29 October 1914. p. 1. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
13. California Blue Book, Or State Roster. Sacramento, CA: State Printing Office. 1915. p. 436. Retrieved July 27, 2017. Election 1914, For the Second District, Nathaniel P. Conrey was elected Presiding Justice for a full term, to succeed self, as successor to Matthew T. Allen, deceased.
14. "Conrey, 75, Oldest Yet Youngest Judge". San Bernardino Sun. No. 42. California Digital Newspaper Collection. Associated Press. 6 October 1935. p. 13. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
15. "Justice Says He'll Retire". Oakland Tribune. August 6, 1936.
16. "Edmonds Named To Fill State Court Bench". Daily New (Los Angeles, CA). September 15, 1936.
17. "Judge Named to High Court". The San Francisco Examiner. September 17, 1936.
18. "High Court Justice Dies". The Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1936.
19. "News Notes". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 35, no. 38. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 22 November 1890. p. 8. Retrieved July 25, 2017. A marriage license was issued yesterday to Nathaniel P. Conrey, 30, Indiana, and Ethelwyn Wells, 21, Ohio, both residents of this city.

External links

• Nathaniel P. Conrey. California Supreme Court Historical Society.
• In Memoriam
• Nathaniel P. Conrey. California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division One.
• "Past and Present Justices". California State Courts. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
• Join California Nathaniel P. Conrey

See also

• List of justices of the Supreme Court of California

Political offices
Preceded by John W. Preston	Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court 1935–1936	Succeeded by Douglas L. Edmonds
Preceded by Matthew T. Allen	Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division One 1913–1935	Succeeded by Frederick W. Houser