Joseph Casey (December 17, 1814 – February 10, 1879) was a

United States Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

and a judge and chief justice of the Court of Claims.

Education and career

Born on December 17, 1814, at Ringgold Manor in the unincorporated community of Ringgold, Washington County,

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, Casey read law with Charles B. Penrose of Carlisle,

in 1838. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Bloomfield, Pennsylvania from 1838 to 1845. He continued private practice in New Berlin, Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1849.

Congressional service

Casey was elected as a Whig from Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

of the 31st United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1851. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1850.

Later career

Following his departure from Congress, Casey resumed private practice in New Berlin from 1851 to 1855, and in

Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

, Pennsylvania from 1855 to 1861. He was a Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1855. He was the reporter of decisions for the

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It also claims to be the oldest appellate court in the United States, a claim that is disputed by the Massachusetts Supreme Ju ...

from 1856 to 1861.

Federal judicial service

Casey received a

recess appointment In the United States, a recess appointment is an appointment by the president of a federal official when the U.S. Senate is in recess. Under the U.S. Constitution's Appointments Clause, the President is empowered to nominate, and with the a ...

from President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

on May 23, 1861, to a Judge seat on the Court of Claims (later the United States Court of Claims) vacated by Judge

George Parker Scarburgh George Parker Scarburgh (February 11, 1807 – December 21, 1879) was a judge of the Court of Claims. Education and career Born on February 11, 1807, in Accomack County, Virginia, Scarburgh read law with Thomas R. Joynes in 1827. He entered p ...

. He was nominated to the same position by President Lincoln on July 9, 1861. He was confirmed by the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

on July 22, 1861, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on March 13, 1863, due to his elevation to be Chief Justice of the same court. Casey was nominated by President Lincoln on March 12, 1863, to the Court of Claims, to the new Chief Justice seat authorized by 12 Stat. 765. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 13, 1863, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on December 1, 1870, due to his resignation.

Later career and death

Following his resignation from the federal bench, Casey resumed private practice in

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, ...

from 1871 to 1879. He was a professor at National University (now

George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Chartered in 1821 by the United States Congress, GWU is the largest Higher educat ...

) from 1871 to 1879. He died on February 10, 1879, in Washington, D.C. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

References

Sources

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The Political Graveyard
{{DEFAULTSORT:Casey, Joseph Judges of the United States Court of Claims Pennsylvania state court judges Pennsylvania lawyers 1814 births 1879 deaths Burials at Oak Hill Cemetery (Washington, D.C.) United States Article I federal judges appointed by Abraham Lincoln 19th-century American judges Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania 19th-century American politicians