Frederick Lincoln Siddons

Frederick Lincoln Siddons (November 21, 1864 – June 19, 1931) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.

Frederick Lincoln Siddons
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia
In office January 15, 1915 – June 19, 1931
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Daniel Thew Wright
Succeeded by	Daniel William O'Donoghue
Member of the Board of Commissioners of Washington, D.C.
In office July 19, 1913 – January 26, 1915
President	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	John Alexander Johnston
Succeeded by	Louis Brownlow
Personal details
Born	Frederick Lincoln Siddons (1864-11-21)November 21, 1864 London, England
Died	June 19, 1931(1931-06-19) (aged 66) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Glenwood Cemetery
Education	George Washington University Law School (LL.B., LL.M.)

Education and career

He was born on November 21, 1864, in London, England, and baptized at St Michael's, Highgate. The parents were named as James Henry Siddons (who was actually Joachim Hayward Stocqueler)^[1] and Mary Agnes (née Cameron), a performer,^[2] who were not married until 1870.

Siddons received a Bachelor of Laws in 1887 and a Master of Laws in 1888, both from Columbian University School of Law (now George Washington University Law School). He was employed with the United States Department of the Treasury starting in 1888. He entered private practice in Washington, D.C. starting in 1890. He was a Professor of Law at National University School of Law (now George Washington University Law School) from 1898. He was a member of the Commission on Uniform State Laws for the District of Columbia.^[3]

Federal judicial service

Siddons was a United States Commissioner for the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia from 1913 to 1915.^[3]

Siddons was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson on December 9, 1914, to an Associate Justice seat on the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (now the United States District Court for the District of Columbia) vacated by Associate Justice Daniel Thew Wright. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 15, 1915, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on June 19, 1931, due to his death in Washington, D.C.^[3]

Notable case

In 1927, Justice Siddons was involved in declaring a mistrial at one stage of the Teapot Dome affair, “the largest scandal in the U.S. government since the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant.”^[4]