THE COURT OF APPEALS OF KENTUCKY. III. By JOHN C. DOOLAN OF THE LOUISVILLE, KY. BAR. WHEN Chief Justice Robinson resigned in 1871, his judicial mantle fell upon the shoulders of a worthy successor in the per son of William S. Pryor, who continuously for more than twenty-five years thereafter adorned the Court of Appeals with his learn
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ing and virtues. He received his first commission by appointment of Gov ernor Leslie in Sep tember, 1871. At the expiration in August, 1872, of the term for which Chief Justice Rob inson had been chosen he was elect ed for a full term of eight years and sub elected sequentlyfortwice a like re-
vast amount of business accumulated before it. In addition to his twenty-five years of service in the Court of Appeals, Judge Pryor was for more than five years a judge of the Circuit Court. He was the can didate of the Demo cratic party for re election in Novem ber, 1896, but he could not stem the tide of opposition to his party in that year and he was defeated by the Republican candidate, Hon. A. R. Burnam. His retirement from the bench gave rise to the most sincere re gret throughout the whole State. ^ Immediately aftervyards he took up the pi'-actice of law in Frankfort before the courL over which he had se long presided. WILLIAM s. during PRYOR. his long term of had His judicial suffered private service, fortune greatly but
period, his last term expiring January i, 1897. He held his seat longer than any other man who ever sat in the court, and did more to mold the jurisprudence of the state than any other judge in the last fifty years. He was four times chief justice— 1871-1872, 18781880, 1886-1888 and 1895-1897. He was the first Chief Justice of the court as reorgan ized on January i, 1895, under the fourth constitution of the state and by his experi ence he was enabled without friction to so adjust the court in its division into sections as to greatly expedite the transaction of the
when he resumed the practice retainers came from every part of the State. It is safe to say that no lawyer in Kentucky hat been in the last three years engaged in mor impor tant cases or in a greater number of ö.em in the Court of Appeals. Judge Pryor was born in Henry Cunty, Kentucky, on April i, 1825. He sti has
