Richard Law

Richard Law (March 7, 1733 – January 26, 1806) was a delegate to the First Continental Congress, the Second Continental Congress, and the Congress of the Confederation. He was Mayor of New London, Connecticut, and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. In the modern day, he has become infamously known for convicting and sentencing Hannah Ocuish, a 12-year-old Native American girl to death for the murder of a 6-year-old white girl.

Education and career Born on March 7, 1733, in Milford, Connecticut Colony, British America, Law pursued classical studies, to Jonathan Law. He graduated from Yale College in 1751 and read law in 1755.

Execution of Hannah Ocuish In October 1786, Law presided over the trial of twelve-year-old Hannah Ocuish, a half-Pequot Native American girl, for the murder of six-year-old Eunice Bolles. Upon the conclusion of the trial, Law sentenced the young girl to death on October 16, 1786.

Federal judicial service Law was nominated by President George Washington on September 24, 1789, to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, to a new seat authorized by . He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 26, 1789, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on January 26, 1806, due to his death in New London. He was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London.

Family Law was the father of Lyman Law, a United States representative from Connecticut, and grandfather of William Henry Law, a Connecticut politician, and John Law, a United States Representative from Indiana.