Charles E. Cox

Charles E. Cox
Indiana Supreme Court portrait, circa 1911
Indiana Supreme Court Justice
In office
January 2, 1911 – January 1, 1917
Preceded byJohn V. Hadley
Succeeded byLawson M. Harvey
Personal details
Born
Charles Elbridge Cox

(1860-02-21)February 21, 1860
Hamilton County, Indiana
DiedFebruary 3, 1936(1936-02-03) (aged 75)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Resting placeCrown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis
Political partyDemocrat
SpouseEmma M. Cooley
Children1 daughter, 2 sons
RelativesHon. Millard F. Cox (brother)
Hon. Jabez T. Cox (brother)
Edward Everett Cox (nephew)
OccupationLawyer

Charles Elbridge Cox (February 21, 1860 – February 3, 1936) was an American lawyer and judge who became the 55th justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, serving from 1911 to 1917. Elected as a Democrat in the Fall of 1910, he was Chief Justice by the end of his six-year term. The "Marshall Constitution" case and the "Technical Institute" case were among the important decisions made by the court during his tenure. As a judge in the Indiana Supreme Court and in lower courts, he never had a decision reversed.[1][2]

Cox began studying law in 1877 while a law clerk for judge William E. Niblack, 27th justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Cox came from a family of lawyers and judges, as brothers Jabez T. Cox and Millard F. Cox also practiced law and spent time as judges in Indiana.[3]

In private practice, Cox gained national attention assisting the prosecutor in the 1925 trial of D. C. Stephenson for the death of Madge Oberholtzer. In addition to private practice and his tenure on the Indiana Supreme Court, Cox's legal career also included librarian of the Indiana State Law Library, Marion County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and city judge of Indianapolis.[1]

  1. ^ a b "Charles E. Cox Sr., Former Judge, Dies", page 1 of the February 4, 1936 Indianapolis Star.
  2. ^ He is listed as a Democrat on page 287 of Monks, Esarey, and Shockley's Courts and Lawyers of Indiana, Volume 1 of the 3 volumes.
  3. ^ Pages 225-226 of Trissal's Public Men of Indiana (Vol. 1).