William Cranch

William Cranch (July 17, 1769 – September 1, 1855) was an American judge and the second reporter of decisions of the United States Supreme Court and nephew of John Adams.

Early life

Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, he was a nephew of Abigail Adams. His father was Richard Cranch, an English-born clockmaker and Massachusetts legislator and his mother was Mary Smith, the elder sister of Abigail Smith Adams, wife of John Adams, the second President of the United States. William Cranch graduated from Harvard College in with honors in 1787 and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1787. From 1791 to 1800, Cranch worked as a legal agent for a real estate firm in Washington.

Circuit Judge and Supreme Court Reporter

When land speculation bankrupted him, his uncle John Adams rescued him by appointing him to be Inspector of Public Buildings in 1800 and then in 1801 to be judge of the District of Columbia circuit court, where he served until his death. Cranch, like William Marbury, was one of the "Midnight Judges" appointed under the Judiciary Act of 1801 that led to the Supreme Court case "Marbury v. Madison".

Cranch was elevated to Chief Judge in 1805. In his role as Chief Judge of this court he swore in two presidents, John Tyler and Millard Fillmore, who each assumed the presidency upon the death of their predecessor. While serving as a Circuit judge, Cranch also served as the second reporter of the Supreme Court from 1801 to 1815

At the time, the reporter was an unofficial post and he used his own funds to produce the reports. Cranch took on the responsibility because of his respect for precedent. He was slow in producing his reports of cases and their accuracy was questioned.

During his tenure on the court, Cranch published a biography of Adams, and was a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Notable Decisions

Cranch is also known for several of his decisions which set a precedent for jury nullification (allowing a jury nullify an "unjust" law and refuse to convict), including:
*"United States v. Fenwick", 25 F. Cas. 1062; 4 Cranch C.C. 675 (1836): Right to make legal argument to jury.
*"Stettinius v. United States", 22 F. Cas. 1322; 5 Cranch C.C. 573 (1839): Right to make legal argument to jury.

In an opinion regarding the mens rea of intoxication, Cranch wrote:Cranch died in Washington, D.C., aged 86.

Family

William Cranch's daughter Abigail Adams Cranch married William Greenleaf Eliot. William Eliot and Abigail Cranch were the parents of Henry Ware Eliot and the grandparents of T. S. Eliot.

References

*White, Edward G. 1988. The Marshall Court and Cultural Change, 1815–1835. Vols. 3 and 4, History of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1815–1835. New York: Macmillan.

*Witt, Elder. 1990. Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court. 2d ed. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly