John Pickering
From Ballotpedia
John Pickering
Prior offices
United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
Education
Personal
John Pickering (1737-1805) was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. He joined the court in 1795 after an appointment from George Washington. At the time of appointment, Pickering was the Chief justice of Superior Court of Judicature of New Hampshire. In 1804, he was removed from the court via impeachment, making him the first federal judge to be impeached.[1][2]
Early life and education
- Harvard College, 1761[2]
Professional career
- Private practice, Greenland, New Hampshire
- Private practice, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, -1783
- Member, New Hampshire State Legislature, 1783-1787
- Private practice, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1788-1790
- Chief justice, Superior Court of Judicature, State of New Hampshire, 1790-1795[2]
Judicial career
District of New Hampshire
Pickering was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. In 1804, he was removed from the court via impeachment; he was the first of thirteen federal judges to have been impeached. He was nominated by President George Washington on February 10, 1795. He was subsequently confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 11, 1795, receiving his commission that same day.[1] Pickering was succeeded in this position by John Samuel Sherburne.
Approach to the law
According to his biography:
"Pickering was a very religious man and strongly believed he should do all he could to help his fellow man. He refused a position as a clergyman in Boston because he believed he could do more good as a lawyer. He lived up to this by giving legal counsel to the poor with no expectation of compensation. Historian Charles Bell says that, 'Though one of the most eminent practitioners of his time, he realized from his business little more than he required for the support of his family.' For Pickering, the legal profession was far more then [sic] a respectable calling, it was a means for him to insure that all men received equal treatment under the law, regardless of wealth and position. He carried this belief into his political career."[1]
See also
External links
- District of New Hampshire
- Judges of the New Hampshire District
- Biography at the Federal Judicial Center.
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: John Sullivan |
District of New Hampshire 1795–1804 Seat #1 |
Succeeded by: John Samuel Sherburne |
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Washington |
Bedford • Blair • Brearley • Cushing • Duane • Hopkinson • Innes • Jay • Law • Lowell • Pendleton • Rutledge • Sewall • Sullivan • Wilson | |
| 1790 |
Bee • Drayton • Griffin • Iredell • Marchant • Morris • Paca • Sitgreaves • Stokes | |
| 1791 - 92 | Chipman • Johnson • Lewis • Peters | |
| 1793 - 95 | ||
| 1796 | ||
| 1797 |
