James Henry Wright
| James Henry Wright | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court | |
|
In office March 21, 1887 – May 7, 1890 |
|
| Nominated by | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | John C. Shields |
| Succeeded by | Henry C. Gooding |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 13, 1838 Franklin County, Kentucky |
| Died | January 17, 1905 (aged 66) Prescott, Arizona Territory |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States
|
| Service/branch |
 Confederate Army
|
| Rank |
 Captain |
James Henry Wright (c. August 13, 1838 – January 17, 1905) was an American jurist and politician. Following his service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, Wright became an attorney in Missouri where he served as mayor of Carrollton and a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Wright was appointed Chief Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court by President Grover Cleveland. He served for three years before being removed from the bench by President Benjamin Harrison.
Wright was born on August 13, 1838 in Franklin County, Kentucky. His family moved to Missouri in 1854. Wright was educated at Westminster College and the State University of Missouri (now University of Missouri). Having studied law, he was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1865.
During the American Civil War, he served with the Confederate States Army and rose to the rank of captain. Following the war he settled in Carrollton, Missouri. In addition to his legal practice, Wright served several terms as city mayor. In 1885, he represented Carroll County in the Missouri House of Representatives. Wright's wife was named Mary. The marriage produced four children: Ed S., Harry, Mary, and Gladys.
Following the United States Senate's decision to reject the recess appointment of John C. Shields, President Grover Cleveland nominated Wright to become Chief Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court on February 4, 1887. The new justice was assigned to district three, comprising Apache, Mohave and Yavapai counties. Wright began his first session as chief justice on March 21, 1887, having arrived in Prescott two days earlier. He received a salary from the Federal government of $3,000/year. The territory supplemented this with an additional $900/year. When Washington officials asked about the chief justice's high level of travel, Wright reminded Attorney General William H. H. Miller that his judicial district covered an area the size of Miller's home state of Indiana.
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