You’ve heard about “hanging judge” Isaac Parker, but did you know he held court in Arkansas? In 1875, Parker volunteered to be a judge in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He started on May 4, 1975. In his first 8 weeks, he tried 91 defendants. He held court six days a week for as long as 10 hours a day. In his first summer as a judge, 18 people were accused of murder and he convicted 15 of them. Six of those men were executed in his gallows on the same day (September 3, 1875) and that set his legacy into motion. The act of hanging 6 men lead to him being somewhat of a media sensation at the time, earning his court the infamous “Court of the Damned” nickname in just his first few months on the job.
The reputation was well deserved. He was a tough judge. In 21 years on the bench, Judge Parker tried 13,490 cases, and 344 of them were capital crimes. He found 9,454 of those plaintiffs guilty and sentenced 160 me to death by hanging. Only 79 were actually hung. The rest died in jail, appealed or were pardoned. Parker was not one who often listened to appeals for criminals convicted of rape or murder, but he was a fair judge and most in Fort Smith agreed with his rulings. Check out this Homepage for criminal defense attorneys. If you’re stuck with a traffic ticket, speeding ticket lawyer in Long Island can help with the legal issues.You can also check out lawyers for domestic violence charges, if you’re subjected to domestic abuse or domestic violence.
Isaac Charles Parker was born in a log cabin in Belmont County, Ohio on October 15, 1838. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1859 at the age of 21. He soon met and married Mary O’Toole. The couple had two sons, Charles and James. Parker built up the reputation for being an honest lawyer and a leader of the community. You can visit this page to learn more about it!
That reputation is one reason President Grant President Grant appointed him to serve as the judge over Western District of Arkansas and all of Indian Territory (the court was located in Fort Smith). At the age of 36, Judge Parker was the youngest Federal judge in the West. His court got the aforementioned reputation, but he was actually seen by his constituents and a fair and even judge. He would grant retrials and occasionally reduce sentences for lesser crimes. However, he most often sided with the victims, especially for violent crimes. He is called one of the first advocates for victim’s rights. Get further information from criminal justice lawyers in Manassas, in criminal cases. In addition, criminal defense lawyers Brisbane are helpful and will give advice when it comes to legal assistance.
If he was criticized, it was from outside of the frontier. There was a lack of law and order in the Indian territory Parker presided over, and most locals were afraid and wanted order brought back to the territory. “Outlaws” thought the laws did not apply to them in the Territory. Lawlessness and terror reigned. Most citizens felt the utter viciousness of the crimes merited the sentences imposed.
Parker actually favored the abolition of the death penalty. He was for strict adherence to the law and a clear standard for punishing crime. He said, “in the uncertainty of punishment following crime lies the weakness of our halting justice.”
Parker’s jurisdiction began to shrink as more courts were given authority over parts of the Indian Territory. In September 1896 Congress closed the court. Six weeks after the court was closed, on November 17, 1896 he died. He left behind a legacy that is often misunderstood. Parker has the reputation as a ruthless and uncaring figure in our history, but his actual legacy is much more complex.
Visit Parker’s Court
The Fort Smith National Historic Site allows tours of Hanging Judge Isaac Parker’s restored courtroom, the “Hell on the Border” jail, a partial reconstruction of the 1888s jail cells and a reconstructed gallows. You can learn more about some of the crimes of the frontier and what Parker actually had to deal with.
Admission is $4. The visitor center (with the courtroom) is open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They do close December 25 and January 1.
Located in Fort Smith (Google map), about 2 hours from Little Rock.
