Charles Cooper Nott Sr. (September 16, 1827 – March 6, 1916) was an Associate Justice and Chief Justice of the Court of Claims.

Charles C. Nott
Chief Justice of the Court of Claims
In office
November 23, 1896 – December 31, 1905
Appointed byGrover Cleveland
Preceded byWilliam Adams Richardson
Succeeded byStanton J. Peelle
Judge of the Court of Claims
In office
February 22, 1865 – November 23, 1896
Appointed byAbraham Lincoln
Preceded byJames Hughes
Succeeded byCharles Bowen Howry
Personal details
Born
Charles Cooper Nott

(1827-09-16)September 16, 1827
Schenectady, New York
DiedMarch 9, 1916(1916-03-09) (aged 88)
New York City, New York
ChildrenCharles Cooper Nott Jr.
RelativesEliphalet Nott
EducationUnion College (AB)

Education and career

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Born on September 16, 1827, in Schenectady, New York,[1] Nott received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1848 from Union College and read law in Albany, New York in 1850.[1] He entered private practice in New York City, New York from 1851 to 1861.[1] He was a captain and colonel in the United States Army from 1861 to 1864 during the American Civil War.[1] He resumed private practice in New York City from 1864 to 1865.[1]

Details of his military service

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Nott was appointed a captain in the Fremont Hussars, was in the 5th Iowa Cavalry, and the 131st New York Volunteer Infantry and the 176th New York Volunteer Infantry,[2] achieving the rank of colonel.[3] He was subsequently captured at the fall of Brashear City, and held as a prisoner of war in Texas for thirteen months.[4]

Federal judicial service

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Nott was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on February 21, 1865, to a Judge seat on the Court of Claims (later the United States Court of Claims) vacated by Judge James Hughes.[3][1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 22, 1865, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on November 23, 1896, due to his elevation to be Chief Justice of the same court.[1]

Nott received a recess appointment from President Grover Cleveland on November 23, 1896, to the Chief Justice seat on the Court of Claims (later the United States Court of Claims) vacated by Chief Justice William Adams Richardson.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Cleveland on December 8, 1896.[1] He was confirmed by the Senate on December 15, 1896, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on December 31, 1905, due to his resignation.[1]

Notable case

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Nott wrote the unanimous opinion in Mrs. Lockwood's Case, 9 Ct. Cl. 346 (1874), denying Belva Ann Lockwood admission to the bar of the Court of Claims. She appealed to the United States Supreme Court and lost there as well.[2]

Reporter of decisions

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Concurrent with his service on the same court, Nott served as reporter of decisions for the Court of Claims from 1867 to 1914.[1] He was the reporter of decisions of forty-eight volumes of the Court of Claims Reports.[3]

Death

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Nott died on March 9, 1916, in New York City.[1]

Family

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Nott was the son of Professor Joel B. Nott, a chemist and mineralogist.[citation needed] He was a grandson of Eliphalet Nott, a longtime President of Union College.[citation needed] His son, Charles Cooper Nott Jr., was a judge of the Special Sessions Court.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Nott, Charles Cooper - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  2. ^ a b Bennett, Marion T. (1976). The United States Court of Claims: A History; Part I: The Judges, 1855–1976. Washington, D.C.: Committee on the Bicentennial of Independence and the Constitution of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
  3. ^ a b c d "Charles C. Nott Dies at 88". The New York Times. March 7, 1916. Charles Cooper Nott, former Chief Justice of the United States Court of Claims and father of Judge Charles C. of the Special Sessions Court, died yesterday at 151 East Sixty-first Street in his eight-ninth year. President Lincoln, whose close friend he was, appointed Mr. Nott to the Court of Claims in February, 1865, and President Cleveland made him Chief Justice in 1896. When he retired in 1905, he had served forty years in the court. Mr. Nott was born in Schenectady, N. Y., and was a son of Professor Joel B. Nott and a grandson of Eliphalet Nott, President of Union College, from which Mr. Nott was graduated in 1848. After being admitted to the bar he removed to this city in 1850, and practised here until the beginning of the civil war, when he enlisted and was promoted to a Colonelcy. President Lincoln appointed him to the Court of Claims two months before his death. Mr. Nott was the author of several books, his last book, "The Mystery of Pinckney Draught, New York," being published in 1909. In addition he was the author of forty-eight volumes of the Court of Claims Reports.
  4. ^ "Judge Nott Promoted: Appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Claims" (PDF). The New York Times. November 24, 1896.

Sources

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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the Court of Claims
1865–1896
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Court of Claims
1896–1905
Succeeded by