Richard Grace (judge)

Richard Grace
Chief Justice of North Dakota
In office 1921–1922
Preceded by	James Robinson
Succeeded by	Luther E. Birdzell
Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court
In office 1917–1922
Preceded by	Evan B. Goss
Succeeded by	William Nuessle
Personal details
Born	(1868-11-08)November 8, 1868 Near Palmyra, Illinois
Died	February 9, 1929(1929-02-09) (aged 60) Mohall, North Dakota
Alma mater	Bushnell College

Richard Grace (November 8, 1868 – February 9, 1929) was an American lawyer and judge who served on the North Dakota Supreme Court from 1918 through 1922.

Early life and education

Grace was born near Palmyra, Illinois on November 8, 1868. His early education took place in country schools. At the age of fifteen, his education was interrupted for several years following the death of his father. He later studied the preliminary requirements that allowed him to be admitted to Bushnell College near Peoria, Illinois. He attended Bushnell college for three years. Between 1889 and 1893 he studied law at a legal office in Springfield, Illinois while working as a teacher. He moved to Morris, Minnesota in 1893, and studied law at a legal office there while continuing to teach.

Legal and judicial careers

In 1895, Grace was admitted to the Minnesota Bar. He practiced law in Morris for ten years before moving to Mohall, North Dakota in 1905. In Mohall he practiced law until 1916, when he defeated incumbent judge Evan B. Goss for election to the North Dakota Supreme Court. He assumed his state judgeship at the age of 48. Grace retired as a judge after six years, returning to private practice by opening a legal office in Bismarck, North Dakota. Grace practiced law in Bismarck for two years, before moving to Sioux City, Iowa for a year, after which time he moved to Minot, North Dakota and practiced law there for three years. He then moved back to Mohall, North Dakota, residing there until his death at the age of sixty on February 9, 1929.