Edward T. Fairchild

Edward Thomas Fairchild (June 17, 1872 – October 29, 1965) was an American jurist and legislator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the 15th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court; he served on the Court for 27 years, from 1930 to 1957. Before that, he served 14 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County. He also represented central Milwaukee County for six years as a Republican in the Wisconsin Senate. His son, Thomas E. Fairchild, was also a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and a judge of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Early life and education Born in Towanda, Pennsylvania, Fairchild grew up in Dansville, New York, where he was educated. He was employed in a newspaper and studied law in the office of Rowe and Coyne. Later, he bought a farm in Dansville, where he would go to for vacations.

Career

After being admitted to the New York bar, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked in the district attorney's office.

In 1906 he was elected to his first of three terms in the Wisconsin State Senate, ultimately serving in the 48th, 49th, and 52nd sessions of the Wisconsin legislature. In 1916, during the 52nd session of the legislature, he was appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County.

In 1930, Fairchild was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and served as chief justice from 1954 until his retirement in 1957. He was re-elected in 1936 and 1946.

In 1957, he administered the oath of office when his son, Thomas E. Fairchild, was sworn in as a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Thomas had been elected Edward's seat in 1956. He died in Madison Wisconsin in 1965 at 93