Paul Farthing

William Dudley Paul Farthing (April 12, 1887 – December 2, 1976) was an American jurist who served on the Supreme Court of Illinois from 1933 until 1942 and on the Illinois Court of Claims from 1950 until 1954. Before this, he served as a St. Clair County Circuit Court from 1930 until 1933. Farthing was blind for most of his life, having loss his eyesight in a hunting accident at the age of twelve.

In 1949, President Harry Truman short-listed him as a possible nominee for the United States Supreme Court.

Early life and education Farthing was born April 122, 1887 in Odin, Illinois. He was one of two sons of his parens, William Dudley Farthing and Sarah Boyd Farthing . While his full name was" "William Dudley Paul Farthing", he was better-known as "Paul Farthing" and many government documents throughout his lifetime referred to him as the latter. For much of his legal career, he practiced alongside his brother since they had both graduated law school together.

Judicial career St. Clair County Circuit Court (1930–33) In 1924, he ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic for the St. Clair County Circuit Court. His wife, Harriet, accompanied him on the campaign trail, driving him to events.

Consideration by Truman for U.S. Supreme Court nomination In 1949, Farthing was one of six short-listed candidates that President Harry S. Truman considered to replace Wiley Rutledge on the U.S. Supreme Court. Truman instead nominated Sherman Minton, who was confirmed.

Illinois Court of Claims (1950–54) In 1950, governor Adlai Stevenson II appointed Farthing to the Illinois Court of Claims. In 1952, he was re-appointed for a second term by Republican governor William Stratton. In 1954, he resigned from the court early, doing so before the expiration of his second term.

Personal life and death Farthing and his wife Harriet had three children: daughters Sarah M. Kenegy and Edna Grace McKinley , son William Dudley Farthing. Edna predeceased Farthing.

Farthing was a founder of the Belleville Optimist Club. He served leadership roles within his local Presbyterian congregation.

Over the course of 27 years, Farthing and his brother Chester assembled a complete collection of all 260 volumes of imprints of Illinois laws, dating back to its territorial era. In 1952, they donated this collection to the DePaul University Library. At the time of the donation, the collection was valued at $17,000.

Farthing died at Belleville's St. Elizabeth's Hospital on December 2, 1976 at the age of 89. His funeral was held at the First Presbyterian Church. He was survived by his widow Harriet, his daughter Sarah, and his son William.