Charles Kerr

Charles Kerr (1863 – February 15, 1950) was an American lawyer and government official who served as a judge of the United States District Court for the Canal Zone from 1921 to 1922.

Early life, education, and career Born in Maysville, Kentucky, Kerr read law to gain admission to the bar, beginning his legal career in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1886.

Federal judicial service In March 1921, it was reported that Kerr was one of "two Lexington men... slated as virtually certain federal appointees under the Harding administration according to authoritative information secured here today", with Kerr expected to be appointed as a federal Judge in the Panama Canal Zone. Kerr's nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 31, 1921, and he thereafter moved to the Canal Zone with his family.

During a visit to Lexington in June 1922, the local bar and court officials interrupted proceedings to extend him an enthusiastic welcome back to the city where he had long practiced and served as a judge.

Later life Following his service in the Canal Zone, Kerr was name a special assistant to United States Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty from 1922 to 1925, He received an honorary LL.D. degree from Transylvania University in 1930.

Personal life and death On October 27, 1896, Kerr married Linda Payne of Lexington, Kentucky, with whom he had one son and one daughter. His wife and children moved to Panama with him for the duration of his service there.

Linda Kerr died of a heart attack in Washington, D.C., in December 1936, and Kerr spent the last fourteen years of his life as a widower. Kerr died at Emergency Hospital in Washington, D.C., from a heart attack at the age of 86.