Luther Marcellus Goddard

Luther Marcellus Goddard (October 27, 1840 – May 20, 1917) was an associate justice of the Colorado Supreme Court from 1891 to 1901 and from 1905 to 1909.

Education and early career Goddard was born in Palmyra, New York and went to elementary school there. His family moved to Abingdon, Illinois, where he completed his secondary schooling. In 1862, he moved to Leavenworth, Kansas and began to read law, then enrolling in the University of Chicago Law School in 1864. He graduated in 1865 and was named class valedictorian. He was admitted to the bar soon after graduating and then returned to Leavenworth.

In Leavenworth, Goddard served for two years as deputy county attorney, then he was elected county attorney for two terms. In fall 1871, he was elected to serve in the Kansas legislature.

In 1892, the Populist and Democratic parties nominated him as their candidate for the Colorado Supreme Court Justice, and he was elected, serving until his term ended in 1901. During this period he moved to Denver.