William Irwin Schaffer | |
|---|---|
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| Chief Justice of theSupreme Court of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 2, 1940 – January 4, 1943 | |
| Preceded by | John W. Kephart |
| Succeeded by | George W. Maxey |
| Associate Justice of theSupreme Court of Pennsylvania | |
| In office December 14, 1920 – January 2, 1940 | |
| Preceded by | John Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Marion D. Patterson |
| Attorney General of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 21, 1919 – December 14, 1920 | |
| Governor | William Cameron Sproul |
| Preceded by | Francis Shunk Brown |
| Succeeded by | George E. Alter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1867-02-11)February 11, 1867 |
| Died | January 15, 1953(1953-01-15) (aged 85) Belleair, Florida, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Susan Ashley Cross |
| Occupation | Judge,lawyer |
| Signature | .png) |
William Irwin Schaffer (February 11, 1867 – January 15, 1953) was an American lawyer and judge fromPennsylvania. He served briefly as the state's Attorney General, resigning to serve on the state's Supreme Court for over twenty years, including three years as chief justice.
Schaffer was the son of George Alfred and Mary Henrietta Irwin Schaffer. His maternal grandfather, William H. Irwin, had served as Adjutant General of the state. Schaffer grew up inChester, Pennsylvania. He left school at age fifteen, finding odd jobs, ending up as an assistant in a law office, where he learned law. He was admitted to the bar ofDelaware County in 1888 on his 21st birthday, the legal minimum.[1][2]
He served two terms as District Attorney for Delaware County. He was active in Republican politics, and was appointed by GovernorWilliam Cameron Sproul, first as Attorney General, and then to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court. He then won election to a 21-year term on the Court. He was elevated to Chief Justice based on seniority in 1940.[3] He was a member of theFive O'Clock Club of Philadelphia.
After retiring from the Court, he returned to private practice, living inHaverford. During his final illness, he stayed in Florida, where he died.[3] He is buried atWest Laurel Hill Cemetery inBala Cynwyd, Hanover Section, Lot 26.
Schaffer wrote the majority opinion in the 1927 case deciding thatSunday baseball was in violation of the state's 1794 "blue laws".[4]
Schaffer was identified, along with Justice John W. Kephart, in a Senate Banking Committee investigation, as being on aJ.P. Morgan & Co. "preferred" list, allowing them steeply discounted prices for the purchase of certain securities. Governor Pinchot asked the two justices to resign. The judges denied any impropriety.[5][6]
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| Preceded by | Attorney General of Pennsylvania 1919–1920 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court 1940–1943 | Succeeded by |
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