Delbert E. Metzger

Delbert E. Metzger (March 4, 1875 - April 24, 1967) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii in the Territory of Hawaii.

Early life and education Born in Ozawkie, Jefferson County, Kansas. Delbert grew up on the shores of Lake Perry, outside of Topeka, he attended local private and public schools before attending Washburn College in Topeka for a year in 1893–94.

Career Delbert E. Metzger worked as a realtor, a grain dealer, a newspaper publisher, a theatrical producer, an accountant, a justice of peace, city attorney, and mining engineer. In 1899, he was sent to Oahu to complete the first land survey of Pearl Harbor. Metzger remained in Hawaii, drilling artesian wells for Lucius E. Pinkham.

Federal judicial service In 1939, Metzger was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii vacated by Judge Edward Minor Watson Jr. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on the same day on August 2, 1939. He was sworn in on August 25, 1939. Metzger was reappointed to additional six year terms until 1952, when he was replaced by John Wiig.

Post-judicial service He was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1952 and 1954 losing to Republican incumbent Joseph Farrington and Republican candidate and Farrington's widow Elizabeth Farrington respectively.