Thomas M. Cooley

Thomas McIntyre Cooley
Born(1824-01-06)January 6, 1824
DiedSeptember 12, 1898(1898-09-12) (aged 74)
Occupation(s)professor, lawyer, jurist
OrganizationDean of University of Michigan
Known forliberty of contracts
Signature

Thomas McIntyre Cooley (January 6, 1824 – September 12, 1898) was an American judge. He was the 25th Justice and a Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, between 1864 and 1885. He was the father of sociologist Charles Cooley. He was a charter member and first chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission (1887).

Cooley was appointed Dean of the University of Michigan Law School, a position he held until 1883.

Thomas M. Cooley Law School of Lansing, Michigan, founded 1972, was named after Justice Cooley. Also, Cooley High School in Detroit and Cooley Elementary School in Waterford, Michigan are named in Justice Cooley's honor.

Justice Cooley is recognized by the State Bar of Michigan as a "Michigan Legal Milestone".[1]

Cooley grave in front of Cooley family obelisk