Walter Smith Cox
Associate Justice of theSupreme Court of the District of Columbia
In office March 1, 1879 – July 1, 1899
Appointed by	Rutherford B. Hayes
Preceded by	Seat established by 20 Stat. 320
Succeeded by	Job Barnard
Personal details
Born	Walter Smith Cox (1826-10-25)October 25, 1826 Georgetown,D.C.
Died	June 25, 1902(1902-06-25) (aged 75) Washington, D.C.
Education	Georgetown University (B.A.,M.A.) Harvard Law School (LL.B.)
Signature

Walter Smith Cox (October 25, 1826 – June 25, 1902) was anassociate justice of theUnited States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Born inGeorgetown, then a separate municipality in theDistrict of Columbia, Cox received aBachelor of Arts degree fromGeorgetown University in 1843, aMaster of Arts degree from the same institution in 1844, and aBachelor of Laws fromHarvard Law School in 1847. He was in private practice inWashington, D.C. from 1848 to 1879, and during that period was also a recorder for the City of Georgetown, an Alderman for the City of Georgetown, and an auditor of theSupreme Court of the District of Columbia. From 1874 to 1879, he was a professor of law at what was then calledColumbian University, known today asGeorge Washington University in Washington, D.C.^[1]

On April 16, 1868, Coxtestified inthe impeachment trial of PresidentAndrew Johnson, having been called as awitness by Johnson's defense team.^[2][3]

Cox was nominated by PresidentRutherford B. Hayes on February 26, 1879, to theSupreme Court of the District of Columbia (now theUnited States District Court for the District of Columbia), to a new associate justice seat authorized by 20 Stat. 320. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on March 1, 1879, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on July 1, 1899, due to his retirement.^[1]

During Cox's service, he presided over the trial ofCharles J. Guiteau, who was convicted of the assassination of PresidentJames A. Garfield.

Following his retirement from the federal bench, Cox resumed teaching as a professor of law at George Washington University from 1899 to 1902. He died on June 25, 1902, in Washington, D.C.^[1]

• Walter Smith Cox at theBiographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of theFederal Judicial Center.

• 1826 births
• 1902 deaths
• Georgetown University alumni
• Harvard Law School alumni
• George Washington University faculty
• Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
• United States federal judges appointed by Rutherford B. Hayes
• People from Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)
• Testifying witnesses of the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson

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