Background
He was the son of Joab H. Banton, a judge in Waco, Texas, and Imogene (Hamilton) Banton.
He was the son of Joab H. Banton, a judge in Waco, Texas, and Imogene (Hamilton) Banton.
He graduated Bachelor of Arts from Kentucky University in 1890, and was admitted to the bar in Texas in 1891.
Afterwards he removed to New York City and continued there the practice of law. In January 1918, he was appointed by Doctorate.A. Edward Swann an Assistant Doctorate.A. and remained in office until August 1919 when he resigned to resume his private practice as a partner in Banton, Ferguson & Moore. Banton was appointed by Swann Chief Assistant Doctorate.A. in January 1921, and during most of the year acted as District Attorney while Swann remained out-of-state.
In November 1921, Banton was elected on the Tammany Hall ticket New York County District Attorney, defeating the "Coalition" candidate John Kirkland Clark.
On taking office in January 1922, Banton appointed Ferdinand Pecora as his Chief Assistant Doctorate.A.
As Doctorate.A. Banton indicted more than 100 bucket shops during the Roaring 20"son In 1924, he got a conviction of William H. Anderson of the New York Anti-Saloon League on fraud charges.
In 1925, he was re-elected with a large plurality over Ex-Governor Charles South. Whitman who had been New York County Doctorate.A. from 1910 to 1914. Banton was instrumental in establishing peace between the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association and the Hip Sing Association in the Tong War for control of Chinatown.
His office investigated the murder of Arnold Rothstein and prosecuted George "Hump" McManus who was acquitted.
In July 1920, he defended Doctorate.A. Swann in a one-million-dollar suit brought by Gaston Means.