Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. | |
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_(cropped).png) Hutcheson in 1904 publication | |
| Senior Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | |
| In office November 4, 1964 – January 18, 1973 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | |
| In office 1948–1959 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Richard Rives |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | |
| In office January 26, 1931 – November 4, 1964 | |
| Appointed by | Herbert Hoover |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 46 Stat. 538 |
| Succeeded by | Homer Thornberry |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | |
| In office April 6, 1918 – January 26, 1931 | |
| Appointed by | Woodrow Wilson |
| Preceded by | Waller Thomas Burns |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Martin Kennerly |
| 41stMayor of Houston | |
| In office 1917–1918 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Jay Pastoriza |
| Succeeded by | Almeron Earl Amerman Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. (1879-10-19)October 19, 1879 |
| Died | January 18, 1973(1973-01-18) (aged 93) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | University of Virginia University of Texas School of Law (LLB) |
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Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. (October 19, 1879 – January 18, 1973) was aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He served asMayor of Houston from 1917 to 1918.
Joseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. was born on October 19, 1879, inHouston,Texas, to Mildred Lightfoot (née Carrington) andJoseph Chappell Hutcheson. He studied at the public and private schools of Houston and atBethel Military Academy. Hutcheson studied at theUniversity of Virginia, but transferred and graduated with aBachelor of Laws in 1900 from theUniversity of Texas School of Law.[1][2]
Hutcheson started a law practice with his father.[2] He had a private practice in Houston from 1900 to 1918. He was chief legal adviser to Houston from 1913 to 1917. He wasMayor of Houston from 1917 to 1918.[1]
Hutcheson was nominated by PresidentWoodrow Wilson on March 29, 1918, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas vacated by JudgeWaller Thomas Burns. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on April 6, 1918, and received his commission on April 6, 1918. His service terminated on January 26, 1931, due to his elevation to the Fifth Circuit.[1]
Hutcheson was nominated by PresidentHerbert Hoover on December 20, 1930, to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, to a new seat authorized by 46 Stat. 538. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 13, 1931, and received his commission on January 26, 1931. Franklin Roosevelt considered Hutcheson fora possible Supreme Court appointment during the early years of his presidency, and never letHugo Black forget this after losing out thereto.[3]
He served as Chief Judge and as a member of theJudicial Conference of the United States from 1948 to 1959. During this era he ran the court in what has been described as an autocratic manner,[4] while after he stepped down as Chief Judge, Hutcheson sat on only five of the controversialcivil rights cases[4] for which the court soon became famous.[5] Although he described himself as aJeffersonian Democrat,[6] Hutcheson was generally not unfavourable to the civil rights decisions of the "Fifth Circuit Four" emerging during the later years of his reign.[4]
Due to poor health[7] Hutcheson assumedsenior status on November 4, 1964,[1] by when he was the longest-serving federal judge measured by time in active service sincethe Civil War. As of 2025 Hutcheson remains the eighth-longest-serving federal judge by time in active service. He was the last appeals court judge in active service appointed by President Hoover, and the last federal judge in active service originally appointed to the bench by President Wilson. His service terminated on January 18, 1973, due to his death in Houston.[8]
Hutcheson was also a member of the Anglo-American Committee on Displaced Persons that recommended in 1946 that Britain greatly increase the number of Jewish refugees it would let intoPalestine.[8]
Media related toJoseph Chappell Hutcheson Jr. at Wikimedia Commons| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas 1918–1931 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Seat established by 46 Stat. 538 | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 1931–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Office established | Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 1948–1959 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Mayor of Houston 1917–1918 | Succeeded by Almeron Earl Amerman Sr. |
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