John Field Simms Sr. (May 6, 1885 – February 11, 1954)Attorney John F. Simms, Ex-New Mexico Justice
, ''Washington Evening Star'' (February 12, 1954), p. 18. was a justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court from March 15, 1929, to December 31, 1930. He was not nominated for reelection. His son,

John F. Simms John Field Simms Jr. (December 18, 1916 – April 11, 1975) was an American politician and lawyer from the state of New Mexico who served as the 16th Governor of New Mexico. Early life and education Simms was born in Albuquerque on December 1 ...

became Governor of New Mexico in 1955. Born in Washington, Arkansas, Simms "received his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1906 and was admitted to the Arkansas bar the same year". He was elected to one term in the

Arkansas House of Representatives The Arkansas State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the ...

, and thereafter moved to New Mexico in 1914. On March 15, 1929, Simms and Charles C. Catron were appointed by Governor

Richard C. Dillon Richard Charles Dillon (June 24, 1877 – January 5, 1966) was an American entrepreneur, politician and the eighth governor of New Mexico. He held the governor's office from January 1, 1927 to January 1, 1931. Early life Dillon was born in St ...

to two newly-created seats on the state supreme court. He partnered with James R. Modrall. The University of New Mexico has a lectureship named for him. Simms married Anne Clapton Schluter. His son was campaigning for the Democratic Party nomination when Simms died. Another of his sons was Dr. Albert G. Simms. He was pinned against a tree and both his legs broken in an auto accident. Simms died of a heart attack at the age of 68.

References

1885 births 1954 deaths Vanderbilt University alumni Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives Justices of the New Mexico Supreme Court {{NewMexico-state-judge-stub