Draft:David W. Moffat

David W. Moffat (March 26, 1870 – March 4, 1944)^[1]^[2] was a justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1933 until his death in 1944, serving as chief justice from 1939 to 1943.

Early life, education, and career edit

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah,^[2]^[3] Moffat was raised on a ranch in Rich County, Utah, entering the University of Utah in 1891.^[3] After receiving his undergraduate degree, he taught school in Salt Lake County, Utah, and worked as a surveyor while studying law.^[3] He entered the University of Chicago Law School in 1904,^[3] where he met and became friends with Elias Hansen, who also went on to serve on the Utah Supreme Court.^[4] Moffat entered the practice of law in Murray, Utah, serving thereafter as city attorney for Murray and Midvale, and "gaining prominence as a counsel in irrigation water cases of the west".^[1]

Judicial service edit

In 1928, Moffat ran for election to a seat on the Utah third judicial district, to which he was elected, serving there until 1932.^[1]^[3]

He was first elected to that post in 1932. reelected in 1942 and from 1939 to 1943 served as chief justice.^[1]

(more in obit)

In 1832, Moffat was elected to a seat on the state supreme court,^[1] succeeding James W. Cherry, who had declined to run for reelection.^[5]

References edit

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "David W. Moffat Dies, Victim of Heart Attack", The Salt Lake Tribune (March 6, 1944), p. 1.
^ ^a ^b "Judge David W. Moffat Dies of Heart Attack at 73", Murray Eagle (March 9, 1944), p. 1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Fine Array of Legal Talent Facing Voters: David W. Moffat", The Utah Statesman (September 14, 1928), p. 2.
^ William H. Folland, "Tribute to Chief Justice Elias Hansen", 6 Utah Bar Bulletin (Annual Meeting) 47 (1936).
^ Stephen W. Julien, "The Utah State Supreme Court and Its Justices, 1896-1976", 44 Utah Hist. Q. 267, 280-82 (1976).