John Charles Watrous (August 1, 1801 – June 17, 1874) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Texas and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
John Charles Watrous | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | |
| In office February 21, 1857 – April 19, 1870 | |
| Appointed by | operation of law |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 11 Stat. 164 |
| Succeeded by | Joel C. C. Winch |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Texas | |
| In office May 29, 1846 – February 21, 1857 | |
| Appointed by | James K. Polk |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 9 Stat. 1 |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| In office 1837 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Charles Watrous August 1, 1801 Colchester, Connecticut |
| Died | June 17, 1874 (aged 72) |
| Education | Union College (A.B.) read law |
Education and career
editBorn on August 1, 1801, in Colchester, Connecticut,[1] Watrous received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1828 from Union College and read law in 1830.[1] Watrous entered private practice in Selma, Alabama from 1830 to 1835.[1] He continued private practice in Woodville, Mississippi from 1835 to 1836.[1] He was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1837.[1] He resumed private practice in the Republic of Texas from 1837 to 1838.[1] He was Attorney General of the Republic of Texas from 1838 to 1839.[1] He resumed private practice in Galveston, Republic of Texas (State of Texas from December 29, 1845) from 1839 to 1845.[1]
Federal judicial service
editWatrous was nominated by President James K. Polk on May 27, 1846, to the United States District Court for the District of Texas, to a new seat authorized by 9 Stat. 1.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 29, 1846, and received his commission the same day.[1] Watrous was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on February 21, 1857, to a new seat authorized by 11 Stat. 164.[1][2] His service terminated on April 19, 1870, due to his resignation,[1] because he was stricken with paralysis.[3]
Criticism and impeachment attempts
editAfter his appointment to the federal bench, Watrous became the object of severe criticism, in part because his decisions in a number of cases went against the wishes of some members of the legislature and because of his personal connections with land speculation in the state.[3] The alleged relation of Watrous to an attempt to validate forged land certificates resulted in the Texas legislature's passing a resolution in 1848 asking the judge to resign.[3] Impeachment proceedings against him began in the United States House of Representatives in January 1851 with the presentation of three petitions or memorials.[3] The main charges against him were violating Texas statutes punishing those dealing in fraudulent land certificates, misusing his judicial influence, and holding sessions of court improperly.[3] After numerous investigations the case was dropped by a vote of 111 to 97 on December 15, 1858.[3] Complaints continued to be presented to each succeeding Congress; Sam Houston, on February 3, 1859, made a scathing attack on Watrous, and United States Representative Andrew J. Hamilton prosecuted the impeachment until the adjournment of Congress on March 3, 1861.[3]
Civil War
editDue to Texas' secession from the Union and the American Civil War, Watrous was unable to hold court from 1861 to 1865.[3] He resumed holding court at the end of the war.[3]
Later career and death
editFollowing his resignation from the federal bench, Watrous moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and practiced law as much as his health would permit.[3] He died on June 17, 1874.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m John Charles Watrous at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Texas: Legislative History - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j HINTON, HARWOOD P. (15 June 2010). "WATROUS, JOHN CHARLES". tshaonline.org.
Sources
edit- John Charles Watrous at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.