Robert Earl (September 20, 1824 – December 2, 1902 Herkimer) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1870 and 1892.
He was born on September 20, 1824, in the Town of Herkimer, in Herkimer County, New York. He was educated at the Herkimer Academy, and graduated from Union College in Schenectady in 1845. After graduation, he became Principal of Herkimer Academy, and at the same time studied law with Charles Gray in Herkimer. He was admitted to the bar in 1848, and practiced in partnership with his brother Samuel in their law firm in the Village of Herkimer, S. & R. Earl.[1]
As a young lawyer, Earl was active in local politics and civic affairs. In 1849, he acquired a weekly newspaper, the "Herkimer Democrat", and served as its editor and publisher. In the same year, he was elected a supervisor of Herkimer, then trustee of the village, and again supervisor in 1860. He was also elected First Judge and Surrogate of the Herkimer County Court in 1855, and served from 1856 to 1859. In 1868, he served as President of the New York Democratic State Convention.[1]
New York Court of Appealsedit
In 1869, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the seat on the New York Court of Appeals to which Henry R. Selden had been elected in 1863. After Selden's resignation in January 1865, the seat had been occupied by John K. Porter (appointed 1865, elected for the remainder of the term in Nov. 1865, resigned Dec. 1867) and Lewis B. Woodruff (appointed 1868). Earl would have served for the remaining two years of the term, but was legislated out of office on July 4, 1870, when the Court of Appeals was completely re-organized. As the elected judge with the shortest remaining term, as was the rule established by the New York State Constitution of 1846, he was Chief Judge during his half year in office in 1870.
From 1870 to 1875, he was one of the Commissioners of Appeals.
On November 5, 1875, he was appointed by Governor Samuel J. Tilden to the Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Martin Grover. At the New York state election, 1876, he was re-elected on the Democratic ticket for a full fourteen-year term, and was re-elected with Republican endorsement at the New York state election, 1890. On January 19, 1892, he was appointed Chief Judge again, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William C. Ruger, and remained on the post until the end of the year. He left the bench at the end of 1894 when he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years.
While serving on the Court of Appeals, Earl received honorary LL.D. degrees from Union College in 1874, and from Columbia College in 1887.
Life after retirement from benchedit
After retiring from the bench in 1894, Judge Earl returned to his home community of Herkimer, where he joined with several others to form the Herkimer Bank, which became the Herkimer National Bank in 1898. In 1896, Earl founded the Herkimer Historical Society, and as the Society's president contributed numerous research papers and historical essays. He encouraged the youth of Herkimer County by offering prizes for the best essays submitted to the Historical Society. And, 1896 he donated his residence and grounds for the establishment of the Herkimer Free Public Library. While Earl's residence and grounds still existed in 2014, the library was moved in the 1970s to another location in the Village of Herkimer, and renamed the "Frank J. Basloe Library".[1]
He suffered a stroke on November 22, 1902, and died ten days later at his home in the Village of Herkimer. He was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery there.
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Robert Earl September 20 1824 December 2 1902 Herkimer was an American lawyer and politician from New York He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1870 and 1892 Robert EarlRobert Earl 1893 Chief Judge of the New York Court of AppealsIn office 1869 1870 1875 1894Appointed byGovernor Samuel J TildenCommissioner of AppealsIn office 1870 1872First Judge and Surrogate Herkimer County CourtIn office 1856 1859Personal detailsBorn 1824 09 20 September 20 1824Herkimer New YorkDiedDecember 2 1902 1902 12 02 aged 78 Herkimer New YorkResting placeOak Hill Cemetery Herkimer New YorkSpouseJuliette L Wilkerson Contents 1 Early life 2 New York Court of Appeals 3 Life after retirement from bench 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editHe was born on September 20 1824 in the Town of Herkimer in Herkimer County New York He was educated at the Herkimer Academy and graduated from Union College in Schenectady in 1845 After graduation he became Principal of Herkimer Academy and at the same time studied law with Charles Gray in Herkimer He was admitted to the bar in 1848 and practiced in partnership with his brother Samuel in their law firm in the Village of Herkimer S amp R Earl 1 As a young lawyer Earl was active in local politics and civic affairs In 1849 he acquired a weekly newspaper the Herkimer Democrat and served as its editor and publisher In the same year he was elected a supervisor of Herkimer then trustee of the village and again supervisor in 1860 He was also elected First Judge and Surrogate of the Herkimer County Court in 1855 and served from 1856 to 1859 In 1868 he served as President of the New York Democratic State Convention 1 New York Court of Appeals editIn 1869 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the seat on the New York Court of Appeals to which Henry R Selden had been elected in 1863 After Selden s resignation in January 1865 the seat had been occupied by John K Porter appointed 1865 elected for the remainder of the term in Nov 1865 resigned Dec 1867 and Lewis B Woodruff appointed 1868 Earl would have served for the remaining two years of the term but was legislated out of office on July 4 1870 when the Court of Appeals was completely re organized As the elected judge with the shortest remaining term as was the rule established by the New York State Constitution of 1846 he was Chief Judge during his half year in office in 1870 From 1870 to 1875 he was one of the Commissioners of Appeals On November 5 1875 he was appointed by Governor Samuel J Tilden to the Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Martin Grover At the New York state election 1876 he was re elected on the Democratic ticket for a full fourteen year term and was re elected with Republican endorsement at the New York state election 1890 On January 19 1892 he was appointed Chief Judge again to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William C Ruger and remained on the post until the end of the year He left the bench at the end of 1894 when he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years While serving on the Court of Appeals Earl received honorary LL D degrees from Union College in 1874 and from Columbia College in 1887 Life after retirement from bench editAfter retiring from the bench in 1894 Judge Earl returned to his home community of Herkimer where he joined with several others to form the Herkimer Bank which became the Herkimer National Bank in 1898 In 1896 Earl founded the Herkimer Historical Society and as the Society s president contributed numerous research papers and historical essays He encouraged the youth of Herkimer County by offering prizes for the best essays submitted to the Historical Society And 1896 he donated his residence and grounds for the establishment of the Herkimer Free Public Library While Earl s residence and grounds still existed in 2014 the library was moved in the 1970s to another location in the Village of Herkimer and renamed the Frank J Basloe Library 1 He suffered a stroke on November 22 1902 and died ten days later at his home in the Village of Herkimer He was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery there See also editRiggs v Palmer 1889 one of his opinionsReferences edit a b c Veronica Benigno Robert Earl Judiciary of New York Retrieved 11 October 2014 External links edit 1 Obit in NYT on December 3 1902 The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough page 361 Weed Parsons and Co 1858 2 Complete listing of Court of Appeals judges with portrait 3 The candidates in NYT on November 1 1869 4 The candidates in NYT on November 2 1876 5 Appointed Chief Judge in NYT on January 20 1892 6 Nominated by the Republicans in NYT on September 3 1890 7 Candidates for office in NYT on November 7 1865 Rep Porter vs Dem Grover for Court of Appeal Legal offices Preceded byWard Hunt Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals1870 Succeeded bySanford E Church Preceded byWilliam C Ruger Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals1892 Succeeded byCharles Andrews 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