Thomas Jewett Mabry (October 17, 1884 December 23, 1962) was an American attorney, politician and judge, who was chief justice of the

New Mexico Supreme Court The New Mexico Supreme Court () is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is established and its powers defined by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution. It is primarily an appellate court which reviews civil and criminal ...

(1939–46) and the 14th governor of New Mexico (1947–51).

Career

Thomas J. Mabry was born on October 17, 1884. He attended the

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the ...

and the

University of New Mexico School of Law The University of New Mexico School of Law (UNM Law or New Mexico Law) is the law school of the University of New Mexico, a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1947, it is the only law school in the st ...

. He settled in

Clovis, New Mexico Clovis is a city in and the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico. The population was 38,567 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Clovis is located in the New Mexico portion of the Llano Estacado, in the eastern part of the state. A ...

, where he practiced law and published the local newspaper. He was a member of the New Mexico Constitutional Convention in 1910. Mabry held numerous political and judicial posts, including serving in the

New Mexico Senate The New Mexico State Senate () is the upper house of the New Mexico State Legislature. The Senate consists of 42 members, with each senator representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts across the state. All senatorial distr ...

(1912–17); on the

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

City Commission (1926–27); as

District Attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, county prosecutor, state attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or solicitor is the chief prosecutor or chief law enforcement officer represen ...

of Albuquerque (1932–36); and as a state district judge (1937–39). From 1939 to 1946, he was chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. He was elected Governor as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

in 1946 and reelected in 1948. In 1917, during his time at the New Mexico Senate, his second wife Katherine Mabry became one of the first female lawyers in New Mexico. During Mabry's time as governor, the state was active in several post-

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

initiatives, including creation of state commission on alcoholism and a fair employment practice commission. Mabry's governorship was notable for his involvement in the "Brushy" Bill Roberts hearing. "Brushy" Bill Roberts claimed to be the outlaw William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid, and applied for a pardon from crimes Bonney had committed in New Mexico. Mabry announced the meeting, which was covered by the press. Mabry announced that he did not believe Roberts' story, and denied the pardon application. The press attention and the trip from his home in

Hico, Texas Hico (, ) is a small city located in Hamilton County in central Texas, United States. The population was 1,335 at the time of the 2020 census, down from 1,341 in the 2010 census. Over the years, it became a cattle and cotton market. Today, ra ...

to Santa Fe had a negative effect on the elderly Roberts' health, and he died soon afterwards. In retirement, Mabry was a resident of Albuquerque. He died in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

on December 23, 1962, and was buried at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque.

References

External links

Thomas J. Mabry
at ''National Governors Association'' *

at ''Oklahoma Cemeteries''

at ''Political Graveyard'' * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mabry, Thomas J. 1884 births 1962 deaths People from Carlisle County, Kentucky New Mexico state court judges Democratic Party New Mexico state senators Democratic Party governors of New Mexico University of Oklahoma alumni New Mexico lawyers Justices of the New Mexico Supreme Court University of New Mexico School of Law alumni American Presbyterians 20th-century American judges People from Hico, Texas People from Clovis, New Mexico Chief justices of the New Mexico Supreme Court 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century members of the New Mexico Legislature