Charles P. McCarthy (1881 – February 4, 1950)[1][2] was an Idaho lawyer and judge who served as a justice of the Idaho Supreme Court from 1921 to 1925, serving as chief justice for the final year of his tenure.
Early life, education, and career
editBorn in Boston, Massachusetts,[2][3] McCarthy received an A.B. from Harvard University, and graduating from Harvard Law School in 1902.[4] After briefly practicing law in Massachusetts, he moved to Idaho in 1905,[2][3][5] there becoming a partner in the law office of William Borah.[2][3]
McCarthy became an acting city attorney, and the prosecuting attorney of Ada County, and also practiced law in Boise for seven years.[4]
Judicial service
editIn January 1912, Governor James H. Hawley appointed McCarthy to a seat on the Idaho Third District Court vacated by the resignation of Judge John F. Maclane.[6] McCarthy took the oath of office and began undertaking his duties two weeks thereafter.[4] He was one of the youngest people ever appointed to that office.[3] In 1913, McCarthy built a new house,[3] which would come to be known as the Judge Charles P. McCarthy House, having a "design inspired by plans sold by Frank Lloyd Wright".[5] McCarthy was re-elected to the Third Circuit seat in 1914, and again in 1918.[7]
On July 31, 1920, McCarthy announced his candidacy for one of two new seats on the state supreme court that would be created pending passage of a constitutional amendment up for approval in the same election.[8] At the state's Republican Party convention later that month, he was unanimously endorsed for the party's nomination for the seat,[9] and won in the general election in November, along with the rest of the Republican state ticket.[10]
On January 2, 1924, McCarthy became chief justice of the Idaho Supreme Court.[11] In June 1924, McCarthy announced that he would not be a candidate for reelection to the court, and would instead retire to private law practice following the end of his term on January 1, 1925.[12]
Within a few months of his retirement from the court, he was hired by the public utilities commission as special counsel defending against a federal lawsuit brought by the Idaho Power company.[13] In August 1929, McCarthy announced that he would be moving to Los Angeles, California, to join the law firm of Hill Morgan and Bledsoe there.[7] McCarthy spent the rest of his life in Los Angeles.[1]
Personal life and death
editOn September 29, 1909, McCarthy married Ethel Stewart, the daughter of state supreme court justice George H. Stewart.[3][14] They had five daughters.[1]
McCarthy died in Los Angeles at the age of 68, "following an operation at the Good Samaritan Hospital".[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Obituary for Charles P. McCarthy", The Los Angeles Times (February 8, 1950), p. 56.
- ^ a b c d "Former Jurist Dies", The Idaho Falls Post-Register (February 6, 1950), p. III-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Patricia Wright (June 26, 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Judge Charles P. McCarthy House". National Park Service. Retrieved August 28, 2017. With photo from 1978.
- ^ a b c "Judge C. P. McCarthy Takes His Seat Today", The Idaho Statesman (January 27, 1912), p. 7.
- ^ a b Charles McCarthy Home, Idaho Architecture Project, accessed July 12, 2024.
- ^ "M'Carthy Is Judge In Idaho", The Spokesman-Review (January 14, 1912), p. 3.
- ^ a b "Judge M'Carthy Joins Law Firm", The Idaho Statesman (August 22, 1929), p. 10.
- ^ "Judge M'Carthy Consents To Run For High Court", The Idaho Statesman (August 1, 1920), p. 5.
- ^ "Republican State Ticket Nominated", The Kendrick Gazette (August 27, 1920), p. 1.
- ^ "G. O. P. Ticket Wins In Idaho; Gooding Leads Over Nugent", Idaho County Free Press (November 4, 1920), p. 1.
- ^ "Charles P. McCarthy Succeeds Budge on Bench", The Twin Falls Times-News (January 2, 1924), p. 1.
- ^ "M'Carthy Not Candidate For Supreme Court", The Idaho Statesman (June 29, 1924), p. 8.
- ^ "Judge M'Carthy Is Employed By Idaho Utilities", The Twin Falls Times-News (April 28, 1925), p. 1.
- ^ "Additional City Local - Married", The Idaho Statesman (September 30, 1909), p. 4.
External links
edit- Charles McCarthy Home, Idaho Architecture Project,