Henry Alexander Melvin (September 28, 1865 – April 24, 1920) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from September 28, 1908 to December 1920.
Biography
Melvin was born at Springfield, Illinois, on September 28, 1865, to Samuel and Sarah Melvin, the youngest of four children.[1] In 1874, when he was nine years old, his family moved to St. Helena, California.[2] In 1878, his parents moved to Oakland where his father, a retired medical practitioner, opened a pharmacy. Henry attended the University of California, Berkeley, while assisting his father to earn his school fees, graduating with a B.Phil. in 1889.[2] In April 1890, he was elected census marshal by the Oakland Board of Education.[3]
In 1893, Melvin became the assistant District Attorney of Alameda County. In 1894, he accepted a five-year term to serve as Prosecuting Attorney for the City of Oakland.[9][10] He returned to Alameda County to serve as Chief Deputy District Attorney, except for a period of three months when he was acting Deputy Attorney General of California.[11]
In 1901, Melvin accepted the position of Superior Court Judge of Alameda County. In November 1902, he was elected to a full term.[12][8] In 1904, the Legislature approved creation of the Courts of Appeal and Melvin was considered for one of the seats in the Second District but not chosen by Governor George Pardee.[13]
^"Hastings Community". Hastings Alumni Publications. 81. San Francisco, CA: Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association: 22. Fall 1992. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^"County Supervisors' Meeting". The Morning Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. January 13, 1891. p. 7. Retrieved August 15, 2017. The resignation of T. N. Machin, Justice of the Peace of Brooklyn township, was filed and the matter of the appointment of his successor continued until the next meeting....Henry A. Melvin of Clinton are applicants for the position.
^"To Succeed Machin". The Morning Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. January 27, 1891. p. 7. Retrieved August 15, 2017. Henry Melvin is a young newspaper man and student of law and popular.
^ ab"Metcalf Asks For Election of Republican Legislators". San Francisco Call. No. 154. California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 1, 1902. p. 11. Retrieved August 14, 2017. Beginning as a Justice of the Peace in Brooklyn Township. Judge Melvin stepped into the District Attorney's office, later becoming' a deputy in the State Attorney General's department. When the new department of the Superior Court in Alameda County was created by the last Legislature Judge Melvin was appointed to serve the term that will expire January 1.
^"Mr. Melvin is a Handsome Man". The San Francisco Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. November 28, 1896. p. 11. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
^"Courthouse Briefs". Los Angeles Herald. No. 10. California Digital Newspaper Collection. October 11, 1900. p. 12. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"Brown Slated to Succeed Melvin". San Francisco Call. Vol. 104, no. 119. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 27, 1908. p. 19. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"Governor Will Not Be Rushed". The San Francisco Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. December 7, 1904. p. 9. Retrieved August 15, 2017. It is gossip in the court circles that Judge Henry A. Melvin of Alameda..are so highly commended that they will be appointed.
^"Will Appoint Melvin Monday". Sacramento Union. No. 35. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 27, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"Judge Melvin is Unanimous Choice". San Francisco Call. Vol. 104, no. 116. California Digital Newspaper Collection. September 24, 1908. p. 16. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"Some Members of the Higher Judiciary". Mill Valley Independent. No. 20. California Digital Newspaper Collection. November 11, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"Judge Prepares to Take Melvin's Place". Los Angeles Herald. No. 155. California Digital Newspaper Collection. April 30, 1920. p. A4. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"Bohemians Elect Regular Ticket". San Francisco Call. Vol. 109, no. 140. California Digital Newspaper Collection. April 19, 1911. p. 5. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
^"The Elks' Lodge of Sorrow". The San Francisco Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. December 5, 1897. p. 15. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
^"A Noted Chicago Divine". The San Francisco Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. May 23, 1896. p. 6. Retrieved August 15, 2017. Recitation,...bass solo, Henry A. Melvin
^"Music and Musicians". The San Francisco Call. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. January 20, 1898. p. 6. Retrieved August 15, 2017. Willis E. Bacheller is planning to inaugurate a series of song recitals to be given at his home...Assisting Mr. Bacheller will be five of his pupils--...Henry A. Melvin, basso.
External links
Henry A. Melvin. California Supreme Court Historical Society. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
