Morris Ames Soper

Morris Ames Soper (January 23, 1873 – March 11, 1963) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Soper received an A.B. from Johns Hopkins University in 1893 and an LL.B. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1895. He was an Assistant state's attorney of Baltimore City from 1897 to 1899. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Maryland from 1900 to 1909. He was in private practice in Maryland from 1909 to 1914. He was a President, Board of Police Commissioners, Baltimore City from 1912 to 1913. He was a Chief judge, Supreme Bench of Baltimore from 1914 to 1921. He was in private practice in Maryland from 1921 to 1923.

Soper was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Soper was nominated by President Warren G. Harding on February 10, 1923, to a seat vacated by John C. Rose. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 24, 1923, and received his commission the same day. Soper served in that capacity until May 9, 1931, due to appointment to another judicial position.

Soper was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Soper received a recess appointment from President Herbert Hoover on May 6, 1931, to a seat that became vacant upon the death of Edmund Waddill, Jr. Formally nominated on December 15, 1931, he was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 12, 1932, and received his commission on January 19, 1932. He assumed senior status on June 2, 1955, and served in that capacity until his death on March 11, 1963.

Sources

• Morris Ames Soper at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.