William E. Werner

William Edward Werner (April 19, 1855 – March 1, 1916) was an American lawyer and judge from New York.

Early life Werner was born on April 19, 1855, in Buffalo, New York, to Magdalena (or Margaret) and Peter Werner. His parents were German immigrants. He was educated in public schools in Buffalo prior to 1870. His parents died early, so he left school and worked as an errand boy, foundry worker and then farmhand. As a farmhand, he was able to return to school in the winter months. He returned to Buffalo and worked at a factory and attended Bryant and Stratton's Business College at night to study bookkeeping and commercial law. He then worked at a wholesale grocery firm as a bookkeeper. He unsuccessfully sought nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by Rufus W. Peckham, which President Taft ultimately gave to Horace Harmon Lurton instead. The case is suspected to have been a collusive lawsuit since the plaintiff was a bachelor whose negligence was the primary cause of their occupational injury, his attorney's fee was higher than the potential payout, and the complaint and answer were filed on the same day. In New York Central Railroad Co. v. White (1916), the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revised law.

In 1913, Werner ran on the Republican ticket for Chief Judge, but was defeated by Democrat Willard Bartlett. Werner remained on the bench as an associate judge and died in office.

Personal life Werner married Lillie Boller of Buffalo on March 7, 1889.