Ernest Ford Cochran

Who was Ernest Ford Cochran?

Ernest Ford Cochran was a United States federal judge.

Born in Anderson, South Carolina, Cochran received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1888. He was in private practice in Anderson for various periods from 1889 to 1923, and was also a commissioner for the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina from 1889 to 1891. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of South Carolina from 1891 to 1892 and from 1898 to 1905, also serving as Anderson's city attorney from 1898 to 1900, and was the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 1906 to 1914, and for the Western District of South Carolina from 1921 to 1923.

On November 22, 1923, Cochran received a recess appointment from Calvin Coolidge to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina vacated by Henry A. M. Smith. Formally nominated on December 15, 1923, Cochran was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 17, 1924, and received his commission on January 21, 1924. Cochran served until his death.