William A. Fletcher (Michigan judge)

For the United States federal appeals court judge, see William A. Fletcher.
William Asa Fletcher

William Asa Fletcher (June 26, 1788 – September 19, 1852) was an American jurist.

Born in Plymouth, New Hampshire, Fletcher was a merchant in Salem, Michigan and then studied law in Esperance, New York. In 1820, Fletcher moved to Detroit, Michigan Territory and was admitted to the Michigan bar. Fletcher was appointed judge for Wayne County, Michigan Territory and served as Michigan territorial attorney general. From 1830 to 1832, Fletcher served on the Michigan Territorial Council. Fletcher was appointed the first chief justice of Michigan Supreme Court, when Michigan was admitted to the union in 1837 and served as a regent for the University of Michigan at the same time. Fletcher retired in 1842. Fletcher died in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[1][2][3]

While serving as a judge, Fletcher was appointed by the Governor to create a code of laws for the new state of Michigan, which was adopted in 1837 and 1838.[4]

As a regent, Fletcher helped to determine the location of the University of Michigan after relocation to Ann Arbor in 1837, which he stood to benefit from as a member of the Ann Arbor Land Company. However, an economic recession in 1838 prevented this.[5]

Fletcher had a reputation as an able lawyer, but one prone to drinking sprees that sometimes interfered with the court's business. On one occasion, an attorney on the losing side of a case immediately appealed, saying, "May it please your honor, I want to appeal from the court drunk to the court sober," and Fletcher granted the appeal. On another occasion, he referred to one of the side judges who assisted him as "the only part of this court that is sober".[6]

  1. ^ "William Fletcher – MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY". Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  2. ^ 'Michigan Historical Collections,' volume XXXV, Wynkoop Hallenback Crawford Company: Lansing, Michigan, 1907, pg. 543-544
  3. ^ 'The Michigan University Book 1844-1880,' Theodore R. Chase-editor, Richmond & Chase Company, Detroit, Michigan: 1880, biographical sketch of William A. Fletcher, pg. 6
  4. ^ "Winter 2019" (PDF). micourthistory.org.
  5. ^ "A Different Diag". heritage.umich.edu.
  6. ^ DeLand, Charles V. (1903), DeLand's History of Jackson County, Michigan, B. F. Bowen, p. 271, retrieved 2018-11-12