The Green Bag

Number XXII

November, 1910

Number 11

Judge Irving G. Vann HE ability of the New York Court of Appeals is generally recognized, and the supreme tribunal of no other state enjoys a higher reputation for learn

ing, shows a more skillful grasp of the

still later Vann, McLennan& Dillaye. For about fifteen years he practised his profession, winning a leading position at the bar before his elevation to the bench. His legal career, however, was inter

recondite problems of modern commerce and finance, or exerts a stronger influence in moulding the doctrines of American

rupted by a. term of service as Mayor of

jurisprudence. No member of this Court, '

Judge Vann was first elected to the Supreme Court of New York in 1881,

probably, is better known to the pro fession generally than Judge Irving G. Vann, who is one of the oldest judges in point of service. His work in the tribunal whose traditions he has so ably upheld

Syracuse, to which office he was elected in 1879.

dates back to 1889, when he was desig

being re-elected in 1895. He therefore had many years’ honorable experience not only at the bar, but on the bench of the Supreme Court, before his advance ment to the Court of Appeals. In 1896

nated as a Judge of the second division

he was appointed Judge of the latter

of the Court of Appeals, under the pro visions of a constitutional amendment

had served from 1889 to 1892.

which permitted that Court to secure the assistance of seven Justices of the Supreme Court to sit as a separate body. Judge Vann is now in his sixty-ninth year, having been born at Ulysses, in

Tompkins county, N. Y., January 3, 1842. He received what is now a good preparation for the bar and what in those times was doubly so. Fitting for college

at Trumansburg Academy and at Ithaca

Court, on the second division of which he

His

fourteen-year term expires this year, and it is gratifying to note that the two

leading political parties have concurred in renominating him to serve until he reaches the age limit.

As the

New

York Law journal has observed, “this nomination is a fresh illustration of the disposition to take the judiciary out of partisan politics." On‘ October 11, 1870, Judge Vann

Academy, he was graduated from Yale

married Miss Florence Dillaye of Syra

in 1863 and from Albany Law School in 1865. He then read in the oflice of

cuse.

Boardman & Finch, Ithaca, and was ad mitted to the bar in 1865, beginning the practice of law at Syracuse as a member of the firm of Raynor& Vann, which firm was afterwards Fulle: & Vann, and

He received the degree of LL.D.

from Hamilton in 1882, from Syracuse in 1897, and from Yale in 1900.

He is a

member of the Century, University, and

Citizens’ Clubs of Syracuse, and of the

Fort Orange Club of Albany. His ad dress is 316 James street, Syracuse.