John Emmett Carland
United States federal judge

John Emmett Carland (December 11, 1853 – November 11, 1922) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Commerce Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the United States Circuit Courts for the Eighth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.
Education and career
Born on December 11, 1853, in Oswego County, New York, Carland attended the University of Michigan and read law in 1877. He entered private practice in Bismarck, Dakota Territory (now North Dakota) starting in 1877, and served as city attorney for Bismarck. He also served as county attorney for Burleigh County, Dakota Territory (now North Dakota). He was the United States Attorney for the Dakota Territory from 1885 to 1888. Carland then served as a justice of the Dakota Territorial Supreme Court until 1889. He returned to private practice in Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory (State of South Dakota from November 2, 1889) from 1889 to 1895. He served as a special assistant to the United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota.
Federal judicial service
Carland received a recess appointment from President Grover Cleveland on August 31, 1896, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota vacated by Judge Alonzo J. Edgerton. He was nominated to the same position by President Cleveland on December 8, 1896.
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