Cornelius H. Hanford

Cornelius Holgate Hanford (April 21, 1849 – March 2, 1926) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Washington and the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, and was the only Judge to serve in the District of Washington and the first to serve in the Western District of Washington. Hanford resigned in the face of an impeachment investigation by the United States House of Representatives. He was the younger brother of the newspaper editor Thaddeus Hanford.

Education and career

Born on April 21, 1849, in Winchester, Iowa, Hanford read law in 1875. Hanford resigned his judgeship immediately after the testimony about the Northern Pacific transaction was completed, amid insinuations in the press that further witnesses were about to reveal even more corrupt behavior. The House committee terminated its impeachment proceedings upon his resignation.