University of Nebraska College of Law - Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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jubge ID. 5. munger y It is a compliment to the discrimination of the faculty of the College of Law, that a man who was chosen from among the members of the bar of the state to lecture on Municipal Corpora- tions should 'be later appointed to the eminent position now occu- pied by Mr. Munger. Williain Henry Munger was born in Bergen, N. Y., September 12, 1845. He spent his earlier years there and later studied law in Cleveland, Ohio. For many years he has practiced law in Ne- braska, his home being in Fremont. That he occupied a promi- nent position in that community is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen as a member of the Constitutional convention held in 187 5. . He has never been at any time a politician, being content to practice the profession and that alone. By so doing he achieved the position as leader of the bar in that part of the state. He was a democrat in politics and during the last campaign was with the sound money wing of the democracy. February 19, 1897, Mr. Munger was confirmed as judge of the United States Court in the district of Nebraska. His appointment seems to have been very felicitous. Lawyers from every party congratulated him upon his success in life, and themselves that so able and fair a judge was to preside in the federal court. Judge Munger has reaped the rich reward of a man who works faithfully and presses toward the mark of his high calling. He has been preferred not on account of political service but as a compliment to his ability as a lawyer.

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5011. gran!-1 Krnine Hon. Frank Irvine, of Omaha, who is the lecturer on Damages, is among the youngest men in the faculty. He was born in Sharon, Pa., September 15, 1858. In that state he spent his ear- lier years. These years must have been profitably spent for in 1880 he graduated from Cornell with the degree of A.B. Three years later he took the degree of LLB. at the National Univer- sity at Washington, D. C. He was then almost twenty-five years old and began his practice. Success seems to have followed him closely. From 1891 to 1893 he was district judge, and in 1893 he was chosen Supreme Court Commissioner, which position he still occupies. He is a rather small, delicate appearing man with none of the adipose tissue supposed to be essential in judges and legal lumi- naries. His voice. is appealing and persuasive. He evidently seeks to mould the opinions of his hearers by the logical force of his arguments and not after the manner of Aaron Burr who said 4' law is a proposition boldly set forth and plausibly maintained W. His opinions are highly esteemed for their nicety of discrimi- nation and keenness of analysis. Being thoroughly prepared for the practice of his chosen profession and with a natural bent to the solution of the problems afforded the judge, his opinions are logical, accurate, and of such a character as to reiect great credit upon the bar of the state. '

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Egon. john G. watson John C. VVatson was born September 20, 1850, at St. Louis, Missouri. After completing his common school education he en- tered the University of Michigan, Where' he graduated in 1873. Upon being admitted to the bar he located in Nebraska, and has made this state his home ever since, during which time he has established a wide reputation as an acute and able jurist. As a criminal lawyer he easily leads the Nebraska bar. In 1878 he was elected district attorney of the Second Judicial District, comprising the counties of Lancaster, Cass, Nemaha, and Otoe, serving four terms in that capacity. He was elected to the legislature in 1887, and in 1889 as tloat representative from Otoe and Cass counties was elected speaker of the house, in which capacity he achieved distinction as a parliamentarian. He was also re-elected to the house in 1891 and 1893. Under Presi- dent Harrison he was tendered the position of attorney general of Alaska, but declined the appointment. In 1894 he was elected to the state senate. Mr. lVatson holds the chair of Lecturer on Criminal Law in the College of Law, which position he has held for tive years. His home is in Nebraska City.