William P. Lawlor

William Patrick Lawlor (September 17, 1854 – July 24, 1926) was an associate justice of the California Supreme Court from January 3, 1915, to July 25, 1926.

Biography

Lawlor was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, on September 17, 1854, the son of Irish immigrants, Patrick Lawlor and Eliza Maher. In 1877, Lawlor moved to California and worked in the silver mines in Napa. In 1885, he moved to San Francisco and became involved in Democratic party politics. and in the offices of Rhodes & Barstow and Dennis Spencer in San Francisco, California. He was re-elected to the bench in 1900, 1906 and 1912. As a Superior Court judge, Lawlor dismissed indictments in the San Francisco trolley bribery cases against officials of the United Railroads.

In 1910, Lawlor ran unsuccessfully against Republican candidate Henry A. Melvin for the California Supreme Court. In 1914, Lawlor was elected an associate justice of the California Supreme Court, replacing Frank M. Angellotti who was elected chief justice. Lawlor served in that position from January 3, 1915, until his death on July 25, 1926. In 1922, Lawlor ran against Curtis D. Wilbur for the position of chief justice, but lost.

Personal life On November 25, 1913, Lawlor married Mary Lee Henry. The couple had no children.

Selected works