Abram Penn Staples

Abram Penn Staples
Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
In office October 7, 1947 – January 15, 1951
Preceded by	George L. Browning
Succeeded by	Lemuel F. Smith
24th Attorney General of Virginia
In office March 22, 1934 – October 7, 1947
Preceded by	John R. Saunders
Succeeded by	Harvey B. Apperson
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 21st district
In office January 11, 1928 – March 22, 1934
Preceded by	R. Holman Willis
Succeeded by	Harvey B. Apperson
Personal details
Born	Abram Penn Staples September 18, 1885 Martinsville, Virginia, U.S.
Died	March 21, 1951 (aged 65) Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jean Duncan Watts
Alma mater	Washington & Lee University
Religion	Episcopalian

Abram Penn Staples (September 18, 1885 – March 21, 1951) was born at Martinsville, Virginia. During his childhood, his family moved to Roanoke, where he attended Roanoke High School. He then entered Washington and Lee University, where he received a Bachelor of Law degree in 1908. Entering into practice at Roanoke in 1908, he soon made a name for himself as an exceptional lawyer. In 1924, he was elected President of the Roanoke Bar Association and, in 1927, was elected to the Virginia Senate, being re-elected in 1931.^[1] He was appointed Attorney General of Virginia in March 1934 to fill out the term of John R. Saunders and was subsequently elected to that office in 1937 against Republican Gerould M. Rumble. He was reelected in 1941 and 1945. In August 1947, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia and served on that court until he retired in January 1951, as a result of failing health. Staples was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Delta Phi, and Omicron Delta Kappa.

References

1. Journal of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Virginia: Session 1928. Richmond: Virginia State Library. 1920.

External links

• Abram Penn Staples at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007