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Emerson R. Boyles (June 29, 1881 – November 30, 1960) was an American lawyer and judge. He served as a justice of theMichigan Supreme Court from 1940 until 1956.[1]
Boyles was born inChester Township, Michigan, on June 29, 1881.[1] He attended rural district schools and graduated fromCharlotte High School inCharlotte, Michigan asvaledictorian.[1] Boyles earned hislaw degree from theUniversity of Michigan Law School in 1903 and wasadmitted to the bar when he was twenty-one years old.[1]
Boyles beganpracticing law inCharlotte.[1] He was electedEaton Countyprosecuting attorney, serving from 1912 to 1916.[1] From 1921 until 1927, Boyles was aprobate judge for Eaton County.[1]
In 1927, Boyles resigned as probate judge to become deputy attorney general underMichigan Attorney GeneralWilliam W. Potter. Boyles remained in that position until 1933, serving under three attorneys general.[1] In 1935,GovernorFrank Fitzgerald, appointed Boyles to serve on theMichigan Public Utilities Commission.[1] In 1936, Boyles became the legal advisor to Fitzgerald, and later to GovernorLuren Dickinson.[1]
On November 5, 1940, Boyles was elected a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court to fill the vacancy of William W. Potter. Boyles was re-elected in 1943 and 1950 and remained on the court until 1956.[1]
Boyles was the author of the Michigan Criminal Index, Probate Blanks, and Probate Manual, and was a supervisor of Compiled Laws of 1929.[1]
Boyles married Mabel Casler in 1905.[1] He had one daughter, Mary Frances Crouse, and three grandchildren, Edward Boyles Crouse, John Emerson Crouse, and Henry Bernard Crouse.[1] Boyles died on November 30, 1960.[1]