William A. Fletcher (Michigan jurist)

William Asa Fletcher (June 26, 1788 – September 19, 1852) was an American jurist.

For the United States federal appeals court judge, see William A. Fletcher.

Born in Plymouth, New Hampshire, Fletcher was a merchant in Salem, Michigan and then studied law in Esperance, New York. In 1820, Fletcher moved to Detroit, Michigan Territory and was admitted to the Michigan bar. Fletcher was appointed judge for Wayne County, Michigan Territory and served as Michigan territorial attorney general. From 1830 to 1832, Fletcher served on the Michigan Territorial Council. Fletcher was appointed the first chief justice of Michigan Supreme Court, when Michigan was admitted to the union in 1837. Fletcher retired in 1842. Fletcher died in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[1][2][3]

Fletcher had a reputation as an able lawyer, but one prone to drinking sprees that sometimes interfered with the court's business. On one occasion, an attorney on the losing side of a case immediately appealed, saying, "May it please your honor, I want to appeal from the court drunk to the court sober," and Fletcher granted the appeal. On another occasion, he referred to one of the side judges who assisted him as "the only part of this court that is sober".[4]

Notes
  1. Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society-William A. Fletcher
  2. 'Michigan Historical Collections,' volume XXXV, Wynkoop Hallenback Crawford Company: Lansing, Michigan, 1907, pg. 543-544
  3. 'The Michigan University Book 1844-1880,' Theodore R. Chase-editor, Richmond & Chase Company, Detroit, Michigan: 1880, biographical sketch of William A. Fletcher, pg. 6
  4. DeLand, Charles V. (1903), DeLand's History of Jackson County, Michigan, B. F. Bowen, p. 271, retrieved 2018-11-12



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