Samuel Alschuler

This article is about Samuel Alschuler, a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals. For Washington state and California businessman, see Samuel Altshuler.

Samuel Alschuler (November 20, 1859 – November 9, 1939) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Samuel Alschuler
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office May 15, 1936 – November 9, 1939
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office August 16, 1915 – May 15, 1936
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Peter S. Grosscup
Succeeded by	Walter Emanuel Treanor
Personal details
Born	Samuel Alschuler (1859-11-20)November 20, 1859 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	November 9, 1939(1939-11-09) (aged 79)
Political party	Democratic
Relatives	George Alschuler (brother)
Education	Read law

Early life

Samuel Alschuler was born November 20, 1859 Chicago, Illinois. A member of a civically-engaged family German-Jewish family, his brother George also served in the Illinois House of Representatives and another brother, Benjamin, was a judge of the Illinois Court of Claims.^[1] Alschuler was raised in Aurora, Illinois. After graduating from Aurora High School, Alschuler spent some time as a general store clerk, he read law and was admitted to the Illinois Bar.^[1]

Legal and political career

Alschuler worked in private practice in Aurora, in partnership with J. C. Murphy, a former US Attorney for the District of Dakota Territory, under the firm name of Alschuler & Murphy.^[2] In the 1892 United States House of Representatives elections, Alschuler was the Democratic nominee for Illinois's 5th congressional district, which was a staunchly Republican-voting district anchored by Kane County. After Alschuler lost his 1892 congressional race, Governor John Peter Altgeld appointed him a member of the State Commission of Claims on July 15, 1893.^[3] He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in the 1896 general election. In his first term, Alschuler served in a role analogous to a floor leader.^[2] In his second term, he was the chairman of the Democratic Steering Committee.^[4] In 1900 Illinois gubernatorial election, Alschuler was the Democratic nominee against Republican candidate Richard Yates Jr.. Yates defeated Alschuler by a narrow 5.43% margin.^[5] Shortly after the gubernatorial election, he was the Democratic nominee for appointment by the Illinois General Assembly in January 1901 to the United States Senate. However, the Republican Party held a state senate majority, and re-elected Republican incumbent Shelby Moore Cullom to serve another six-year term.^[6] Alschuler continued in private practice in Chicago until 1915.^[7][8]

Federal judicial service

Alschuler received a recess appointment from President Woodrow Wilson on August 16, 1915, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Judge Peter S. Grosscup. He was nominated to the same position by President Wilson on January 7, 1916. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 18, 1916, and received his commission the same day. He was a member of the Conference of Senior Circuit Judges (now the Judicial Conference of the United States) from 1924 to 1934.^[7]

On May 7, 1935, Congressman Everett Dirksen (a Republican from Illinois) offered a resolution, H.R. Res. 214, to launch an impeachment inquiry into possibility of bringing impeachment charges against Alschuler. Dirksen delivered long remarks to the Senate, accusing Alschuler of having acted improperly in a 1934 case he presided over by showing bias and partiality in favor of several parties (the Pullman Company, Safety Co, Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne Sr., Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne Jr.) and against the Marshall Electric Company. The resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee.^[9] A week later, the House adopted a resolution, H.R. Res. 220, granting the Judiciary Committee authority to hold hearings.^[10]

Alschuler assumed senior status on May 15, 1936. His service terminated on November 9, 1939, due to his death.^[7]

Other service

Alschuler was appointed to arbitrate between meatpacking unions in Chicago and employers after the President's Mediation Commission intervened in November 1917.^[11] From 1922 to 1923, Alschuler served on the new Federal Coal Commission.^[12]

See also

• Federal Coal Commission