Maurice H. Donahue

Who was Maurice H. Donahue?

Maurice Herbert Donahue was a United States federal judge.

Born in Monroe, Ohio, Donahue read law to enter the bar in 1885. He was in private practice in New Lexington, Ohio from 1885 to 1900, and was a prosecuting attorney for Perry County, Ohio from 1887 to 1903. He was a judge on the Circuit Court of Ohio, Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1900 to 1910, serving as chief judge from 1908 to 1910. He was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio from 1910 to 1919, elected as a Democrat.

On October 1, 1919, Donahue was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated by John Wesley Warrington. Donahue was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 29, 1919, and received his commission the same day. He resigned from the Ohio Supreme Court November 11, 1919, and took the oath of office for his federal appointment on November 13. Donahue served in that capacity until his death.

Donahue married Martina Johnson of Perry County on September 10, 1889. They had two daughters.

Donahue began suffering from heart disease in 1927, and worked until June, 1928.