John Dunne Wickhem (May 25, 1888June 19, 1949) was an American lawyer and jurist from Beloit, Wisconsin. He was a justice of the

Wisconsin Supreme Court The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin. Location The Wi ...

from 1930 until his death in 1949. Prior to joining the court, he worked as a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Biography

John D. Wickhem was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, in May 1888. He was raised and educated in Beloit, and went on to earn his bachelor's degree from

Beloit College Beloit College is a private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Founded in 1846, when Wisconsin was still a territory, it is the state's oldest continuously operated college. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest and has ...

in 1910. After graduating, he taught school in Beloit for four years until entering the University of Wisconsin Law School. He graduated after just two years, speeding up his progression with summer courses. After law school, he went to work in the law office of

Burr W. Jones Burr W. Jones (March 9, 1846January 7, 1935) was an American lawyer, politician, jurist, and law professor. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives in the 48th Congress, and a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Biogr ...

until 1917, when he moved to Milwaukee. But he soon left for

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, where he worked for the War Trade Intelligence Bureau through the end of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Returning to Wisconsin in 1919, he was hired as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. He was subsequently promoted to full professor in 1925. In 1930, he was appointed to the

by Governor

Walter J. Kohler Sr. Walter Jodok Kohler Sr., (March 3, 1875April 21, 1940) was an American businessman and politician from the Kohler family of Wisconsin. He was an innovative and highly successful Wisconsin industrialist. The Kohler Company was founded by his fat ...

, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of

Charles H. Crownhart Charles Henry Crownhart (April 16, 1863 – May 2, 1930) was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Biography Crownhart was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. He was raised in Pierce County, Wisconsin. Crownhart graduated from the Universit ...

. Although Kohler was a Republican, Wickhem at the time was described as a Democrat. He was subsequently elected to a full ten-year term in 1933 and was re-elected in 1943. His most historically noteworthy opinion on the court was likely ''State ex rel Martin v. Heil'', in which he wrote for a unanimous court that the lieutenant governor-elect would become the next governor following the death of the governor-elect. On June 18, 1949, he complained of a slight illness after returning from a trip to

Evanston, Illinois Evanston ( ) is a city, suburb of Chicago. Located in Cook County, Illinois, United States, it is situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. Evanston is north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, Wil ...

, and was taken to a hospital in Madison. He died the next day.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wickhme, John D. 1888 births 1949 deaths Politicians from Beloit, Wisconsin Justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Wisconsin lawyers Beloit College alumni University of Wisconsin Law School alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty 20th-century American judges 20th-century American lawyers