John Milton Killits

Who was John Milton Killits?

John Milton Killits was a United States federal judge.

Born in Lithopolis, Ohio, Killits received an A.B. from Williams College in 1880, an LL.B. from Columbian University in 1885, an LL.M. from Columbian University in 1886, and an A.M. from Williams College in 1887. He published a daily and weekly newspaper in Red Oak, Iowa, 1880-1883, and worked in the War Department at Washington, starting March 1884, before becoming private secretary to General William Babcock Hazen, chief signal officer, U.S. Army. He was in private practice in Bryan, Ohio from 1888 to 1904, also working as a prosecuting attorney of Williams County, Ohio from 1893 to 1899. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, 3rd Ohio District from 1905 to 1910.

On June 21, 1910, Killits was nominated by President William H. Taft to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio created by 36 Stat. 202. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 24, 1910, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on October 6, 1928, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1938.

Killits was married to Alice Nourse Steuart, June 21, 1887, at Washington, D.C., and had two daughters.