Dakota Territorial Supreme Court


The Dakota Territorial Supreme Court was the highest court of the Dakota Territory, then an organized incorporated territory of the United States. It was the first Territorial Supreme Court in American history, and was established under Article One of the United States Constitution, with justices were appointed directly by the President of the United States. The court sat in Yankton, South Dakota, and existed from March 2, 1861 to November 2, 1889. The first court consisted of three justices: Philemon Bliss, George P. Williston, and Joseph Lanier Williams, appointed by President Abraham Lincoln. The court heard no cases until December 3, 1867. In 1879 the court enlarged to four justices, then six in 1884, and eight in 1888.

Justices

Following is a list of justices of the Dakota Territorial Supreme Court, this was that existed. When the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota, the court was abolished by operation of law, and its function was taken over by the North Dakota Supreme Court and the South Dakota Supreme Court.
TitleNameTerm beginTerm endAppointed by
Chief JusticePhilemon Bliss18611864Abraham Lincoln
Associate JusticeGeorge P. Williston18611865Abraham Lincoln
Associate JusticeJoseph Lanier Williams18611865Abraham Lincoln
Chief JusticeAra Bartlett18641869Abraham Lincoln
Associate JusticeWilliam E. Gleason18651867Abraham Lincoln
Associate JusticeJefferson P. Kidder18651875
Associate JusticeJohn W. Boyle18671869Andrew Johnson
Associate JusticeWilmot Brookings18691873Ulysses S. Grant
Chief JusticeGeorge W. French18691873Ulysses S. Grant
Associate JusticeAlanson H. Barnes18731881Ulysses S. Grant
Chief JusticePeter C. Shannon18731882Ulysses S. Grant
Associate JusticeGranville G. Bennett18751878Ulysses S. Grant
Associate JusticeGideon C. Moody18781883Rutherford B. Hayes
Associate JusticeJefferson P. Kidder18791883Rutherford B. Hayes
Associate JusticeSanford A. Hudson18811885
Chief JusticeAlonzo J. Edgerton18821886Chester A. Arthur
Associate JusticeWilliam E. Church18831886Chester A. Arthur
Associate JusticeCornelius S. Palmer18831888Chester A. Arthur
Associate JusticeWilliam H. Francis18841888Chester A. Arthur
Associate JusticeSeward Smith18841885Chester A. Arthur
Associate JusticeLouis K. Church18851887Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeWilliam B. McConnell18851889Grover Cleveland
Chief JusticeBartlett Tripp18861889Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeCharles M. Thomas18871889Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeJames Spencer18871889Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeJohn Emmett Carland18881889Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeRoderick Rose18881889Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeCharles F. Templeton18881889Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeLouis W. Crofoot18881889Grover Cleveland
Associate JusticeFrank R. Aikens18891889Benjamin Harrison