James Gilfillan (March 9, 1829 – December 16, 1894) was an American

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

and

judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...

from

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

. He served as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1869 to 1870 and again from 1875 to 1894.

Life and career

Gilfillian was born on March 9, 1829, in Bannockburn,

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. His parents emigrated to the United States when he was young and settled in

Oneida County, New York Oneida County is a county in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 232,125. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois League or ''Haudenos ...

. He studied law in

Chenango County, New York Chenango County is a County (United States), county located in the south-central section U.S. state of New York (state), New York. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 47,220. Its county seat is Norwich, New York ...

, and Ballston Spa, New York, and was admitted to the bar in 1850. After continuing to study law in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

, for a few years, he decided to relocate to

St. Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center o ...

, in 1857. He opened a law firm with his brother,

Charles Duncan Gilfillan Charles Duncan Gilfillan (July 4, 1831 – December 19, 1902) was an American politician and businessman. Life Gilfillan was born in New Hartford, New York and went to the Homer Academy. He studied at the Hamilton College in 1849 and 1850. ...

, though the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

brought their partnership to an end. Gilfillian served with the 7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was later named the colonel of the

11th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment The 11th Minnesota Infantry Regiment was a United States Volunteers, Minnesota USV infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was the last infantry regiment to be raised by Minnesota during the war. Service ...

. After the war ended, he returned to St. Paul to pursue a career in law. When Chief Justice Thomas Wilson resigned from the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1869, Gilfillian was named his interim replacement him by Governor William Rainey Marshall. When Chief Justice

Samuel J. R. McMillan Samuel James Renwick McMillan (February 22, 1826October 3, 1897) was an American lawyer, judge and Republican politician. He served on the Minnesota District Court, the Minnesota Supreme Court and as U.S. Senator from Minnesota. Life and care ...

resigned in 1875, Gilfillian was again named as an interim replacement by Governor Cushman Kellogg Davis. This time he stood for re-election and won. He served on the Minnesota Supreme Court until his death in 1894.

References

1829 births 1894 deaths People of Minnesota in the American Civil War Minnesota lawyers Chief Justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court Minnesota state court judges People from Stirling (council area) 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers {{Minnesota-state-judge-stub