Francis Marion Black
American judge (1836–1902)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francis Marion Black (July 24, 1836 – May 24, 1902) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1885 to 1894.
Francis Marion Black | |
|---|---|
| |
| Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri | |
| In office 1885–1894 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 24, 1836 Champaign County, Ohio |
| Died | May 24, 1902 (aged 65) Kansas City, Missouri |
| Occupation | Jurist |
| Signature |  |
Biography
Born in Champaign County, Ohio, Black attended a county school and attended Farmer's College. Soon after gaining admission to the bar in 1864, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and entered into the practice of law.[1][2]
He quickly developed a large law practice, and "figured prominently and creditably in a number of instances of exceedingly important litigation".[2] His first public office was as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1875. In 1881, he was elected circuit judge, and was elevated to the state supreme court in 1885. As a justice, his opinions were described as "concise, expressed in terse and vigorous phrases, and manifest a decided inclination to follow adjudged cases". In one case, the court considered one of Black's own previous opinions from his tenure as a circuit judge. When it came before the Supreme Court, all the judges voted to affirm except Black, who filed a brief opinion dissenting from the opinion affirming his previous decision.[2] After his time on the court, he returned to private practice.[1]
Black died at his home in Kansas City at a time when he was planning to step away from his excessive workload.[1]