William Truslow Newman

Who was William Truslow Newman?

William Truslow Newman was a United States federal judge.

Newman read law to enter the bar in 1866. He was a Captain in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, from 1861 to 1865. During the war, he was taken prisoner in battle at Johnson's Ferry. Shortly afterwards, he was released in exchange. He returned to fight and lost his right arm in the Battle of Jonesborough. He was in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1866 to 1871. He was the city attorney of Atlanta from 1871 to 1883, thereafter retutring to private practice until 1886.

On August 13, 1886, Newman received a recess appointment from President Grover Cleveland to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia vacated by Henry K. McCay. Formally nominated on December 9, 1886, Newman was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 13, 1887, and received his commission the same day. Newman served on the bench until his death, in 1920, in Atlanta.