Erskine Mayo Ross

Erskine Mayo Ross
Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
In office
February 22, 1895 – May 31, 1925
Nominated by Grover Cleveland
Preceded by new position
Succeeded by Wallace McCamant
Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office
January 13, 1887 – March 5, 1895
Nominated by Grover Cleveland
Preceded by new position
Succeeded by Olin Wellborn
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
In office
January 5, 1880 – January 12, 1887
Preceded by Elections under new constitution of 1879
Succeeded by Jackson Temple
Personal details
Born (1845-06-30)June 30, 1845
Belpre, Culpeper County, Virginia, U.S.
Died December 10, 1928(1928-12-10) (aged 83)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Ynez Hannah Bettis (m. 1874; death 1907)
Ida Haraszphy Hancock (m. 1909)
Known for founder, Alpha Tau Omega

Erskine Mayo Ross (June 30, 1845 – December 10, 1928) was an American attorney and jurist from California. He served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in from 1895 until 1928, having assumed senior status in 1925. A native of Virginia, previously he was a judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and the Supreme Court of California. He is also one of the three founding fathers of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

Early life

Erskine M. Ross was born in Belpre, Virginia, on June 30, 1845, in Culpeper County. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, leaving school twice during the Civil War to assist the Confederate States Army and then returning for further training, graduating in 1865.[1]

In 1868, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and joined the law office of his uncle, Cameron E. Thom, a prominent lawyer and former state senator who would later serve as Mayor of Los Angeles. After studying law at Thom's office for two years, Ross was admitted to the bar of the district court. In 1875, he joined the bar of the state supreme court, having already become wealthy and famous through his partnership with his uncle.[1]

Judicial service

In 1879, he was elected to the Supreme Court of California and began his term on January 5, 1880.[2] A Democrat, he was elected at age 34 without having served on the bench of any lower court. On December 16, 1886, Ross was nominated to a newly created position on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California by United States President Grover Cleveland.

The United States Senate confirmed him for the seat on January 13, 1887, and he received his federal court commission that same day. He served on that court for eight years. Ross was nominated on February 19, 1895 to a newly created position on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by Grover Cleveland, and he was confirmed and received his commission on February 22, 1895. He assumed senior status on May 31, 1925 and served until his death on December 10, 1928.[2][3]

Bequest creating Ross Essay Contest

In his will, Ross bequeathed $100,000 to endow an essay contest administered by the American Bar Association.[4] The essay contest spawned a well-known tax case, in which a winner avoided paying income tax on his prize money.[5] Congress later amended the tax code so that such winnings would be taxed.[6] The topic for the 2009 Ross Essay Contest is Write an open letter to the new president and Congress describing the most important priority for improving the U.S. justice system.[7]

Personal life

Ross married twice. On May 7, 1874, he wed Inez Hannah Bettis. In 1875, they had one son, Robert Erskine Ross. Inez died December 12, 1907, and in June 1909 Ross remarried to Ida Haraszphy Hancock, a wealthy widow in Los Angeles.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Oscar T. Shuck, History of the Bench and Bar of California, page 657.
  2. 1 2 "Bio of Ross, Erskine May". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Judge Ross, Aged 70, 35 Years on Bench". Los Angeles Herald (210). California Digital Newspaper Collection. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ See Bruce I. Kogan, The Taxation of Prizes and Awards---Tax Policy Winners and Losers, 63 Wash. L. Rev. 257, 263 n. 40 (1988).
  5. ↑ See McDermott v. Commissioner, 150 F.2d 585 (D.C. Cir. 1945).
  6. ↑ See Kogan, supra, at footnote 77 and accompanying text.
  7. ↑ "Michigan lawyer wins inaugural ABA Journal/Ross Contest for Short Fiction". ABA Journal. August 3, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2017. The cash prize is made possible by a trust from the estate of Judge Erskine M. Ross of Los Angeles.
  8. ↑ "Judge of the Circuit Court Takes a Bride, Erskine Mayo Ross Weds Mrs. Hancock". Los Angeles Herald (36 (244)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 2 June 1909. Retrieved July 4, 2017.

Sources

See also


Legal offices
Preceded by
Elections under new constitution of 1879		 Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
1880–1887 		Succeeded by
Jackson Temple
Preceded by
 Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
1887–1895 		Succeeded by
Olin Wellborn
Preceded by
new seat		 Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
1895–1925 		Succeeded by
Wallace McCamant
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