Clarence W. Sessions

Clarence William Sessions
Sessions in 1915
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
In office March 2, 1911 – April 1, 1931
Appointed by	William Howard Taft
Preceded by	Arthur Carter Denison
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Clarence William Sessions (1859-02-08)February 8, 1859 North Plains Township, Michigan
Died	April 1, 1931(1931-04-01) (aged 72) Grand Rapids, Michigan
Education	University of Michigan (AB)

Clarence William Sessions (February 8, 1859 – April 1, 1931) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Education and career

Born in North Plains Township, Ionia County, Michigan, Sessions received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of Michigan in 1881 and read law to enter the bar in 1883. He was in private practice in Ionia, Michigan from 1883 to 1885, and in Muskegon, Michigan from 1885 to 1906. He was a Judge of the Circuit Court of Michigan from 1906 to 1911.

Federal judicial service

On February 25, 1911, Sessions was nominated by President William Howard Taft to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan that was vacated by Judge Arthur Carter Denison. Sessions was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2, 1911, and received his commission the same day. He served until his death on April 1, 1931, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Disability

As a result of the performance of his judicial duties, Sessions' health broke down, circa 1924. This left him unable to handle the full extent of his duties. Sessions was the only Judge assigned to the Western District of Michigan at that time. Consequently, Congress enacted Pub. L. 68–423, 43 Stat. 949, effective February 17, 1925, which established a second judgeship for the district and directed that the Judge appointed to that judgeship would be treated as if senior in commission to Sessions. This relieved Sessions of administrative responsibilities for the court. The statute also provided that upon Session's death, resignation or retirement, the resulting vacancy would not be filled. Fred Morton Raymond was appointed to the new judgeship by President Calvin Coolidge on May 8, 1925. After Raymond's appointment, Sessions shortly ceased the performance of any judicial duties shortly thereafter but remained a judge until his death.

Sources

• Clarence W. Sessions at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.