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.
Born 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]
In 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]
On 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]
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.
Born 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]
In 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]
On 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]