Thomas M. Cooley

Who was Thomas M. Cooley?

Thomas McIntyre Cooley, LL.D., was the 25th Justice and a Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, between 1864 and 1885. Born in Attica, New York, he was father to Charles Cooley, a distinguished American sociologist. He was a charter member and first chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

In 1877, Justice Cooley was appointed visiting faculty, by Sir William Osler, to the Johns Hopkins University. Cooley was appointed Dean of the University of Michigan Law School, a position he held until 1884.

Thomas M. Cooley Law School of Lansing, Michigan was named after Justice Cooley to recognize his contribution to American jurisprudence. Also, Cooley High School in Detroit and Cooley Elementary School in Waterford, Michigan, are commemoratively named in Justice Cooley's honor.SS

Justice Cooley is recognized by the State Bar of Michigan as a "Michigan Legal Milestone".