J. Otis Humphrey

Who was J. Otis Humphrey?

J. Otis Humphrey was a United States federal judge.

Born in Morgan County, Illinois, Humphrey attended Shurtleff College, and read law to enter the bar in 1880. He was a legal clerk for the Illinois State Office of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners from 1880 to 1883. He was in private practice in Springfield, Illinois from 1883 to 1897. He was then the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois from 1897 to 1901.

On March 7, 1901, Humphrey was nominated by President William McKinley to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois vacated by William J. Allen. Humphrey was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 8, 1901, and received his commission the same day. Humphrey served in that capacity until his death, in 1918.