Thomas J. Lennon

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Thomas J. Lennon
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
In office
December 20, 1918 – August 14, 1926
Appointed byDirect election
Preceded byWilliam G. Lorigan
Succeeded byFrank G. Finlayson
Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District
In office
1910 – December 20, 1918
Appointed byDirect election
Preceded byJames A. Cooper
Succeeded byWilliam H. Waste
Personal details
Born
Thomas Joseph Lennon

(1866-02-25)February 25, 1866
Marysville, Yuba County, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 14, 1926(1926-08-14) (aged 60)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Spouse
Emily L. Lenhart
​
(m. 1893)​
Children1
Alma materSt. Mary's College (BS)

Thomas Joseph Lennon (February 25, 1866 – August 14, 1926) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from December 20, 1918, to August 14, 1926.

Biography[edit]

Lennon was born at Marysville, California, on February 25, 1866, and educated in the public schools. During high school, he studied at the Sacramento Institute, where at commencement in June 1881 he presented a speech on "right of free discussion."[1] He then enrolled at St. Mary's College in San Francisco and in 1885 graduated with a B.S. degree. He joined the National Guard and in 1887 was promoted from corporal to second lieutenant, before becoming a captain by 1890.[2][3]

He read law and on January 12, 1888, was admitted to the California bar.[4] He was active in Republican Party politics and civic groups.[5] In 1891, he was president of the Young Man's Institute, a charity.[6] In 1898, he sought the position of Police Judge in San Francisco.[7] He moved to San Rafael, California, in Mill Valley, and in 1902 was elected judge of the Marin County Superior Court on the Republican ticket, filling the vacancy left by Frank M. Angellotti's elevation to the California Supreme Court.[8][9][10][11] In 1910, Lennon won election as Presiding Justice of the District Court of Appeal for the First District.[12]

In February 1918, Lennon announced his candidacy for the California Supreme Court.[13][14] During the campaign, he presented a proposal to streamline court cases, and was endorsed by Republican Senator Hiram Johnson.[15][16] In 1919, he was elected over incumbent William G. Lorigan as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, along with Curtis D. Wilbur who won re-election.[17] In December 1918, Governor William Stephens appointed William H. Waste to Lennon's vacant seat as Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals, First District.[17] Lennon remained in office until his death on August 14, 1926. Prior to his death, he had announced his candidacy for Chief Justice in the November 1926 election against William H. Waste, and Lennon's name appeared on the ballot but in effect Waste ran unopposed.[18] After Lennon's death, in October 1926 Governor Friend Richardson named Frank G. Finlayson to fill Lennon's unexpired term, though Finlayson lost in the November election a month later to John W. Preston.[19]

Personal life[edit]

In 1893, he married Emily L. Lenhart. They had a son, Thomas Lloyd Lennon, who became an attorney.[20]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sacramento Institute-Commencement Exercises". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 13, no. 87. California Digital Newspaper Collection. June 2, 1881. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "National Guard Matters". Daily Alta California. Vol. 42, no. 13979. California Digital Newspaper Collection. December 9, 1887. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Corporal Thomas J. Lennon has been elected Second Lieutenant of Company E, Second Artillery
  3. ^ "To-Day's Programme". San Francisco Call. Vol. 68, no. 117. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 25, 1890. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Captain Thomas J. Lennon, commanding
  4. ^ "Personals". Daily Alta California. Vol. 42, no. 14013. California Digital Newspaper Collection. January 12, 1888. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Yesterday the Supreme Court admitted the following named gentlemen to the Bar:...Thomas J. Lennon.
  5. ^ "Attorney Creswell Has Resigned". San Francisco Call. Vol. 84, no. 77. California Digital Newspaper Collection. August 16, 1898. p. 7. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Supervisor Smith stated that he desired to see a Republican In the office and named Thomas J. Lennon.
  6. ^ "Young Men's Institute". Daily Alta California. Vol. 84, no. 24. California Digital Newspaper Collection. January 24, 1891. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  7. ^ "Republican Conventions Meet To-Night". San Francisco Call. Vol. 84, no. 119. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 27, 1898. p. 5. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "Thomas J. Lennon". Marin Journal. Vol. 43, no. 30. California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 9, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Marin's Republicans and Democrats Meet on Same Day and Nominate Rival Candidates for the County Offices, Thomas J. Lennon the Convention's Choice for Superior Judge and Thomas P. Boyd for the District Attorneyship". San Francisco Call. Vol. 87, no. 116. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 24, 1902. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  10. ^ "Marin Superior Court Notes". Marin Journal. Vol. 44, no. 19. California Digital Newspaper Collection. July 30, 1903. p. 8. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Thomas J. Lennon. Judge
  11. ^ "New County Officers Assume Their Duties, Judge J. T. Lennon Ascends Superior Bench". Marin Journal. Vol. 43, no. 42. California Digital Newspaper Collection. January 8, 1903. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017. A large crowd of spectators assembled in the Superior Court room at 10:30 to witness the advent of Judge Thomas J. Lennon to the Superior Bench.
  12. ^ "Some Members of the Higher Judiciary". Mill Valley Independent. No. 20. California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 11, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  13. ^ "Judge Thos. Lennon Aspires to Seat in Supreme Court". Los Angeles Herald. No. 82. California Digital Newspaper Collection. February 5, 1918. p. 9. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "Lennon Is in Race For Supreme Court". Los Angeles Herald. No. 188. California Digital Newspaper Collection. June 8, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  15. ^ "Wide Attention Is Given Judge Lennon Plan to Speed Justice". Los Angeles Herald. No. 302. California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 19, 1918. p. 10. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "Light Vote Predicted at Election Tomorrow". Los Angeles Herald. No. 2. California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 4, 1918. p. 18. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Needham Successor to Judge Langdon". Madera Weekly Tribune. No. 41. California Digital Newspaper Collection. December 19, 1918. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  18. ^ "Dead Man's Name to be on Ballott". Healdsburg Tribune. No. 237. California Digital Newspaper Collection. August 17, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  19. ^ "Half Dozen Measures Await Official Count Before Fate Will be Definitely Decided". San Bernardino Sun. Vol. 59, no. 67. California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 6, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  20. ^ "Lennon Captures a Fugitive-Gets Client". Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar. No. 13. California Digital Newspaper Collection. May 13, 1920. p. 5. Retrieved July 28, 2017.

External links[edit]

Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
1918 – 1926 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
James A. Cooper
 Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First District
1910 – 1918 		Succeeded by
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