William Ball Gilbert


William Ball Gilbert was an American attorney and jurist from Oregon. He served as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and of the United States Circuit Courts for the Ninth Circuit. A native of Virginia, he previously served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

Early life

Gilbert was born in Lewinsville, Virginia on July 4, 1847 to Sarah Catherine Ball and John Gilbert. William was named after Colonel William Ball] the grandfather of George Washington's mother Mary Ball; he was related to the colonel from his mother's side of the family. He went to local private schools in Lewinsville, located in Fairfax County, and to schools in neighboring Falls Church.
The Gilbert family had pro-Union sympathies, and moved to Ohio before the American Civil War. Gilbert attended high school in Zanesville, Ohio before moving to Williamstown, Massachusetts to attend Williams College. He graduated from Williams in 1868 with an Artium Baccalaureus degree. After graduation he went to the Amazon Basin on a scientific expedition followed by a geologic expedition to Ohio for two years. After giving up on a scientific career, he earned a Bachelor of Laws in 1872 from the University of Michigan Law School. Gilbert was admitted to the bar in Michigan that year, and then moved to Oregon.

Oregon

In 1873, Gilbert was admitted to the Oregon bar and began practicing law in Portland with H. H. Northrup at what is now Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP. On September 3, 1873, Gilbert married Julia West Lindsley. In 1876, he went into a legal partnership with future Governor of Oregon A. C. Gibbs, but only for one year before entering into a partnership with Northrup. Gilbert remained in private legal practice in Portland until 1892, working with John M. Gearin and Zera Snow. In 1888, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. A Republican, he represented Portland, serving only during the 1889 legislative session.

Federal judicial service

Gilbert was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison on February 23, 1892, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States Circuit Courts for the Ninth Circuit, to a new joint seat authorized by 26 Stat. 826. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 18, 1892, and received his commission the same day. On December 31, 1911, the Circuit Courts were abolished and he thereafter served only on the Court of Appeals. He was a member of the Conference of Senior Circuit Judges from 1922 to 1930. His service terminated on April 27, 1931, due to his death in Portland. He was the last serving federal judge who continued appointed by President Harrison. After Gilbert's death, William Denman replaced him on the court.

Brief nomination controversy

Gilbert's nomination to the court was hampered when one of the associates in his firm, future judge Wallace McCamant, wrote a letter to a friend expounding that McCamant would gain financially from Gilbert's election to the court. After it was explained that the financial gain had to do with McCamant becoming partner in the firm if Gilbert left, and not something illicit, the nomination moved forward.

Courthouse and notable cases

Gilbert was assigned to the federal courthouse in Portland, now named the Pioneer Courthouse. While on the court he was responsible for many important decisions, while also serving as the senior ranking judge on the court for 34 years. These including cases concerning the scandal over gold mining in Alaska, a controversy over Leland Stanford's estate and Stanford University, a lawsuit over the Teapot Dome scandal, and the Ninth's opinion in what became the Olmstead v. United States wiretapping case.

Relationship with Joseph McKenna

Gilbert also worked alongside Joseph McKenna, who would later become United States Attorney General before nomination to the United States Supreme Court. Gilbert openly opposed McKenna's nomination to the country's high court based on Gilbert's poor view of McKenna's legal abilities.

Later years

From 1893 to 1918, Gilbert lectured on constitutional law at the University of Oregon School of Law. In 1898, he received an honorary doctorate of laws from his alma mater Williams College. In Portland, Gilbert was a member of the Arlington Club, while in San Francisco, California he was a member of the Southern Club. Described as charming and industrious, he was a very private individual who also refused to ride in automobiles, which he disdained.