Terry W. Ward

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Terry Wilson Ward
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
In office
December 19, 1922 – January 8, 1923
Preceded byCharles A. Shurtleff
Succeeded byEmmett Seawell
Personal details
Born(1885-09-24)September 24, 1885
Merced, California, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 1929(1929-06-10) (aged 43)
Los Gatos, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Blanche Evelyn Ahlers
​
​
(m. 1916)​
Alma materStanford Law School (no degree)

Terry Wilson Ward (September 24, 1885 – June 10, 1929) was an American attorney who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from December 19, 1922, to January 8, 1923, which is the shortest term of any California justice.

Biography[]

Ward was born in Merced, California, to Eliza M. Scott and Russell Henry Ward, an attorney who named his son after California Chief Justice David S. Terry.[1] Ward was educated in the public schools, and graduated from Merced High School.[1] He attended Stanford Law School for two years, and in 1909 was admitted to the California Bar.[2]

Ward entered into private practice in San Francisco with James F. Peck.[1] After a time, he moved his office to Merced for a period of ten years.[3][4] In 1918, he was appointed by the court to defend a charge of first degree murder in case of a husband killing his mother-in-law.[5][6] In early 1921, he returned to San Francisco, and by April found work with the State Corporation Commission.[7] He was assigned to a series of offices, including Los Angeles, then Sacramento, and by late 1922 back to San Francisco.[7]

Ward came to serve on the court due to a shuffling of the positions of several justices. In July 1921, Charles A. Shurtleff was appointed to replace Warren Olney, Jr., who had resigned. Shurtleff served the remainder of Olney's term, which lasted a little over one year until the next election. In the November 1922 election, Shurtleff ran for a full term against Emmett Seawell but lost. There was a "write in" campaign to fill the remaining stub of Shurtleff's term.[7] Ward received the most write in votes to succeed Shurtleff for the short interim term running from the election of November 7, 1922, to January 8, 1923.[8][9] Seawell was elected at the same election for a twelve year term to follow Ward's two week term.[10]

After stepping down from the bench on January 7, 1923, he formed a law firm in San Francisco with Fred Berry, with whom he practiced until March 1924.[1] However, ill health from tuberculosis required him to cease his practice. He regained his strength sufficiently to travel to Europe in 1926 and 1927.[1] He had a relapse of his condition and died on June 10, 1929, in Los Gatos, California.[1]

Personal life[]

In 1916, he married Blanche Evelyn Ahlers (April 24, 1889 – December 2, 1961) of San Francisco, a 1911 literature graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, whom he had met vacationing in Yosemite Valley.[11][12][13] The couple had no children.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Johnson, J. Edward (1966). History of Supreme Court, Vol 2, Justices, 1900-1950 (PDF). San Francisco, CA: Bancroft-Whitney Co. pp. 71–73. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  2. ^ "De Young is Sued by Young Girl Who Did Not Get Piano He Promised". San Francisco Call. 103 (35). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 January 1908. p. 16. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Terry W. Ward of Merced, a student at Stanford university
  3. ^ "In the Superior Court". Madera Mercury (19). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 18 September 1914. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Terry W. Ward is the attorney for the plaintiff
  4. ^ "Acquitted on a Hog Stealing Charge". Mariposa Gazette (37). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 February 1919. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Terry W. Ward of Merced, appeared for the defendant
  5. ^ "Murderer to Hang". Madera Mercury (19). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 11 October 1918. p. 3. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "People v. Bellon, 180 Cal. 706 (1919)". Retrieved July 18, 2017. Defendant's attorney, appointed by the court, with a degree of loyalty to his client's cause that is to be commended.
  7. ^ a b c "S. F. Attorney Wins Supreme Court Seat". Sacramento Union (26199). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 9 December 1922. p. 6. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Terry W. Ward, San Francisco attorney, had been elected associate Justice of the supreme court for the unexpired term ending January 8, 1923
  8. ^ "Gov. Stephens Signs Commissions". Sacramento Union (26209). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 19 December 1922. p. 12. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Another commission signed was for Terry W. Ward, young attorney of San Francisco, who by virtue of receiving more "write-in" votes than any other candidate, will serve as associate justice of the supreme court for the short term ending January 8
  9. ^ "Heaviest Vote is Received by New Governor". San Bernardino Sun. 50 (291). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 16 December 1922. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Final Vote Count Shows Large Lead Given Richardson". Sacramento Union (26206). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 16 December 1922. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  11. ^ "Freshmen to be Given Reception". San Francisco Call. 106 (78). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 17 August 1909. p. 9. Retrieved July 18, 2017. The coeds entering the university will be welcomed...(committee members include) Blanche Ahlers
  12. ^ "Regents of University of California Confer Degrees". San Francisco Call. 190 (168). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 17 May 1911. p. 11. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Bachelor of Letters:..Blanche Ahlers, English, San Francisco
  13. ^ Bolton, E (24 June 1916). "Yosemite Valley, Weekly News Notes Sent by our Regular Corresondent". Mariposa Gazette (3). California Digital Newspaper Collection. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017. Arrivals from nearby places include...Terry W. Ward

External links[]

See also[]

Political offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
December 19, 1922 – January 8, 1923 		Succeeded by
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