Background
Denman, William was born on November 7, 1872 in San Francisco, California, United States. Son of James and Helen Virginia (Jordan) Denman.
Denman, William was born on November 7, 1872 in San Francisco, California, United States. Son of James and Helen Virginia (Jordan) Denman.
B. Little, University of California, 1894, Doctor of Laws, 1944. Bachelor of Laws, Harvard Law School, 1897.
Admitted to bar, 1898. In general practice of law many years. Assistant professor of law and lecturer Hastings College of Law and University of California, 1902-1906.
Chairman of committee appointed by mayor of San Francisco to report on causes of municipal corruption in San Francisco, and drafted report, 1908-1910.
Organized state-wide movement for non-partisan election of judges, 1908, which obtained enactment of law, 1911. Drafted non-partisan majority election law, now part of San Francisco charter, and campaigned for its passage.
Chairman United States Shipping Board and president Emergency Fleet Corporation, also representative of the United States in shipping negotiations with Balfour World War Mission, 1917. Federal receiver Coos Bay Lumber Company, 1919-1922, Chairman of the Board, 1922-1925.
United States circuit judge 9th Circuit since 1935, chief judge, 1948.
Author plan (1936) in part incorporated in court enlargement bill of 1937 for separation of administration of lower Federal Courts from Department of Justice, for creation of court administrator and 50 additional judges (including 20 judges at large) for staffing of Federal Courts so their judges from time of commencement should press litigation to final decision.
Member San Francisco Bar Association (trustee 1904-1906, governor 1911-1919), California State and American bar associations, American Judicature Society, Phi Beta Kappa. Clubs: Commonwealth, Pacific Union, Bohemian, Sierra (charter.
Married Leslie Van Ness, April 4, 1905.