William Burnham Woods

William Burnham Woods
Current Court Information:
Supreme Court of the United States
Title:	Former Justice
Position:	Seat #4
Service:
Appointed by:	Rutherford B. Hayes
Active:	12/21/1880 - 5/14/1887
Preceded by:	William Strong
Succeeded by:	Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar
Past post:	Fifth Circuit
Past term:	12/22/1869 - 12/23/1880
Personal History
Born:	August 3, 1824
Home State:	Newark, OH
Deceased:	May 14, 1887
Bachelors:	Yale, A.B., 1845
Law School:	Read law, 1847
Military service:	U.S. Army, 1862-1866

William Burnham Woods (1824-1887) was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. He joined the Supreme Court in 1880 after an appointment from Rutherford B. Hayes. At the time of the appointment, he served as a judge for the United States Circuit Courts for the Fifth Circuit. He joined the Fifth Circuit in 1869 after an appointment from Ulysses Grant. At the time of appointment he was a Chancellor for the Middle Chancery Division of Alabama. His service ended with his death on May 14, 1887.

Early life and education

• Yale College, A.B., 1845
• Read law, 1847

Military service

• U.S. Army Major General, 76th Ohio Infantry, 1862-1866

Professional career

• Private practice, Newark, Ohio, 1847-1862
• Mayor of Newark, Newark, Ohio, 1856-1857
• Member, Ohio General Assembly, 1857-1861 (served as Speaker and as Minority Leader)
• Private practice, Mobile, Alabama, 1866-1867
• Private practice and cotton planting, Montgomery, Alabama, 1867-1868
• Chancellor, Middle Chancery Division of Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama, 1868-1869

Judicial career

Circuit Courts for the Fifth Circuit

Woods was a federal judge on the United States Circuit Courts for the Fifth Circuit. He was nominated by President Ulysses Grant on December 8, 1869 to a new seat established by 16 Stat. 44. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 22, 1869, and received commission that same day. He served on this court until December 23, 1880.

Supreme Court of the United States

Justice Woods was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Rutherford B. Hayes on December 15, 1880 to fill the vacancy left by William Strong. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 21, 1880, and received commission that same day. He served until his death on May 14, 1887. He was succeeded to this post by Lucius Lamar.

See also

• Supreme Court of the United States

External links

• Biography from the The Ohio Judicial Center.

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: NA - new seat	Circuit Courts for the Fifth Circuit 1869–1880	Succeeded by: NA
Preceded by: William Strong	Supreme Court 1880–1887 Seat #4	Succeeded by: Lucius Lamar