John Erskine

Who was John Erskine?

John Erskine was a United States federal judge.

Born in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, Erskine read law to enter the bar in 1846. He was in private practice in Florida from 1846 to 1855, and then in Newnan, Georgia, and in Atlanta, Georgia until 1865.

On July 10, 1865, Erskine received a recess appointment from President Andrew Johnson to a joint seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, both vacated by John Cochran Nicoll. Formally nominated on December 20, 1865, Erskine was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 1866, and received his commission the same day. On April 25, 1882, Erskine was reassigned by operation of law to serve on only the Southern District of Georgia. He continued in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on December 1, 1883.

He died in Atlanta, Georgia.