Martin Ferdinand Morris

Martin Ferdinand Morris (December 3, 1834 – September 12, 1909) was an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia.

Education and career

Born December 3, 1834, in Washington D.C., of Irish Catholic descent, Morris graduated from Georgetown University in 1854. On leaving Georgetown, Morris entered the Jesuit novitiate at Frederick, Maryland, to prepare himself for the Catholic priesthood. Morris was one of the founders of Georgetown Law in 1870, alongside Charles W. Hoffman, Hubley Ashton, and Charles James.

Federal judicial service

Morris was nominated by President Grover Cleveland on April 14, 1893, to the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia (now the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit), to a new Associate Justice seat authorized by 27 Stat. 434. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 15, 1893, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on June 30, 1905, due to his retirement.

Honor

Morris received the honorary degree Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from Georgetown University in 1877.

Publication

Morris wrote "Lectures on the History of the Development of Constitutional and Civil Liberty" in 1908.

Death

Morris died on September 12, 1909, in Washington, D.C.