Joseph Cross (judge)

Joseph Cross (December 29, 1843 – October 29, 1913) was a New Jersey Republican politician and United States district court judge.

Biography

Born near Morristown, New Jersey, Cross attended Princeton College, receiving an A.B. in 1865 and an A.M. in 1868. He attended Columbia Law School, but read law to enter the profession. He had a private practice in Elizabeth, New Jersey, from 1869 to 1905. During that period, he was also a Judge of the state District Court of Elizabeth from 1888 to 1891, and a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1893 to 1895, serving as its Speaker in 1895, a member of the New Jersey State Senate from 1899 to 1905, serving as President of the senate in 1905.

On March 13, 1905, Cross was nominated by President Theodore Roosevelt to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey created by 33 Stat. 987. Cross was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 17, 1905, and received his commission that day. He served on the court until his death.

Sources

• Joseph Cross at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Political offices
Preceded by John I. Holt	Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly 1895 – 1896	Succeeded by Louis T. DeRousse
Preceded by Edmund W. Wakelee	President of the New Jersey Senate 1905	Succeeded by William J. Bradley
Legal offices
Preceded by Newly created seat	Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey March 17, 1905 – October 29, 1913	Succeeded by Thomas Griffith Haight