John W. Preston

John White Preston (May 14, 1877 - February 18, 1958) was an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court from December 27, 1926, through October 1935.[1]

John White Preston
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
In office
December 27, 1926 – October 6, 1935
Nominated byDirect election
Preceded byFrank G. Finlayson
Succeeded byNathaniel P. Conrey
Personal details
Born(1877-05-14)May 14, 1877
Woodbury, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedFebruary 18, 1958(1958-02-18) (aged 80)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma materBurritt College (BA)

Biography

Born in Woodbury, Tennessee, his parents were Hugh L. Preston and Thankful C. Preston, née Doak. In 1894, when he was 17 years of age, he obtained his undergraduate degree from Burritt College. In 1897, at the age of 19, he was admitted to the bar in Tennessee.[2]

In 1902, he moved to Ukiah, California.[3] In 1908, he was appointed to the state legislature.[4][2] He served until 1910.[3] From 1914 through 1918, he served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of California.[5][3]

In November 1926, Preston was elected as Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court for the remaining four-year term ending January 5, 1931, of Thomas J. Lennon, who died in August.[6][4][7][8] In November 1930, he successfully ran for a full term and was re-elected.[9] In June 1935, Preston announced he would retire before the end of his term to serve as special government attorney in the Elk Hills naval oil reserves case, part of the Teapot Dome scandal.[10] On October 6, 1935, he stepped down from the bench and was replaced by Nathaniel P. Conrey.[11]

While on the Supreme Court, Preston is perhaps best known for acting as prosecutor at the 1930 pardon hearing of Warren K. Billings, who was convicted in connection with the 1916 Preparedness Day Bombing.[12][13][14][15]

After retiring from the Supreme Court, he continued to practice law.[16] Preston died on February 18, 1958, in San Francisco.[17]

Personal life

His brother, Hugh L. Preston, was a judge of the Mendocino County Superior Court for 11 years, and in May 1931 was appointed by Governor James Rolph as an associate justice to the California Court of Appeal, Third District.[18]

Notes
  1. The Supreme Court of California, 2007 Edition (2007), p. 58.
  2. "~cagha/biographies/p/preston-john". rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  3. Pamela Storm. "San Francisco Genealogy - Biographies". sfgenealogy.com. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  4. "Induct Preston as Associate Justice". San Bernardino Sun (59 (119)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 December 1926. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  5. "John W. Preston New U.S. District Attorney". San Francisco Call (115 (13)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 December 1913. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  6. "State Returns". Healdsburg Tribune (4). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 November 1926. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  7. Elliott, Harry (30 October 1926). "C. F. Lea Endorses Preston for Justice". Sausalito News (43). California Digital Newspaper Collection. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  8. "Preston for Judge". Healdsburg Tribune (1). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 1 November 1926. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  9. "Non-Partisan Offices, Judicial Offices". Madera Tribune (80). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 August 1930. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  10. "State Supreme Court Justice Will Resign". Madera Tribune (50). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 28 June 1935. p. 6. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  11. "Conrey, 75, Oldest--Yet Youngest--Judge". San Bernardino Sun (42). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 October 1935. p. 13. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  12. "National Affairs: Radicals Retried - TIME". time.com. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  13. "Billings Case is to Re-Open in S.F. on Monday". Healdsburg Tribune (244). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 August 1930. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  14. "Verdict Also Affects Case of Companion". San Bernardino Sun (67 (93)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 2 December 1930. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  15. "When Supreme Court Convened at Folsom". Healdsburg Tribune (246). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 18 August 1930. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  16. "Allowance for Widow of Comedian Cut Off". San Bernardino Sun (60 (51)). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 29 October 1953. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  17. Lawrence Kestenbaum. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Preston". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  18. "Judge Hugh Preston Given Higher Post". Healdsburg Tribune. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 22 May 1931. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
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See also
Legal offices
Preceded by
Frank G. Finlayson		 Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
1926–1935		 Succeeded by
Nathaniel P. Conrey
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