Dominic Augustin Hall

Dominic Hall redirects here. For the building on the Providence College campus, see Dominic Hall (Providence College).
Dominic Hall
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Louisiana
In office
June 1, 1813  December 19, 1820
Appointed by James Madison
Preceded by Himself
Succeeded by John Dick
In office
June 1, 1812  February 22, 1813
Appointed by James Madison
Preceded by Seat established
Succeeded by Himself
Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
In office
February 22, 1813  May 29, 1813
Appointed by William Claiborne
Preceded by Seat established
Succeeded by Francois Martin
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Orleans
In office
December 11, 1804  April 30, 1812
Appointed by Thomas Jefferson
Preceded by Seat established
Succeeded by Seat abolished
Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit
In office
July 1, 1801  July 1, 1802
Appointed by Thomas Jefferson
Preceded by Seat established
Succeeded by Seat abolished
Personal details
Born (1765-01-01)January 1, 1765
South Carolina, British America
Died December 19, 1820(1820-12-19) (aged 55)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political party Democratic-Republican

Dominic Augustin Hall (January 1, 1765 – December 19, 1820) was a United States federal judge, appointed by two different presidents to four federal judicial positions.

Born in South Carolina, Hall entered the private practice of law in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1789.

On July 1, 1801, Hall received a recess appointment from President Thomas Jefferson to a new seat on the United States Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit created by the Midnight Judges Act (2 Stat. 89). Hall was confirmed by the United States Senate, and received his commission, on January 26, 1802. However, Hall's judgeship was terminated when the court was abolished on July 1, 1802. Jefferson again nominated Hall to a judgeship on November 30, 1804, this time to a new seat created by 2 Stat. 283 on the United States District Court for the District of Orleans, created to serve part of the territory recently acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Hall was confirmed by the Senate on November 30, 1804, and received his commission on December 11, 1804. His service was again terminated by the abolition of the court, this time on April 30, 1812, as Louisiana became a state.

Hall was later nominated by President James Madison, on May 27, 1812, to be a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Louisiana, a new seat created by 2 Stat. 701. Hall was confirmed by the Senate on May 28, 1812, and received his commission on June 1, 1812. On February 22, 1813, Hall resigned to become a judge of the Louisiana Supreme Court. However, he only held the position until May 1813, serving as that court's first Chief Judge. On May 29, 1813, Madison renominated Hall to the District of Louisiana, to the same seat that Hall had vacated. Hall was confirmed by the Senate for the final time on June 1, 1813, receiving his commission that day.

In 1815, after it was learned that a treaty ending the War of 1812 had been signed, Hall challenged Andrew Jackson's continuing enforcement of martial law. Hall was particularly incensed that Jackson had executed six militiamen for departing early from their enlistments. Jackson threw Hall in jail for daring to question his rule. After martial law ended, Hall fined Jackson $1,000 for contempt of court.[1]

Hall remained in office until his death, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

References

  1. Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815–1848 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007), p. 70

Sources

Legal offices
New seat Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit
1801–1802
Seat abolished
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Orleans
1804–1812
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Louisiana
1812–1813
Succeeded by
Himself
Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
1813
Succeeded by
Francois Martin
Preceded by
Himself
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Louisiana
1812–1813
Succeeded by
John Dick
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