Halsted Ritter

Halsted Ritter, US federal judge from Florida.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
In office 1929–1936
Nominated by	Calvin Coolidge
Appointed by	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	Rhydon Mays Call
Succeeded by	John W. Holland

Halsted Lockwood Ritter (July 14, 1868 – October 15, 1951) was an American lawyer a judge and a member of the Republican political party. He served in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida but was impeached and removed from office, only the fourth official to be removed.

Ritter was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1868. His sister was Mary Ritter Beard, the wife of Charles A. Beard; both were noted historians. Halsted Ritter attended DePauw University, receiving his Bachelor of Philosophy in 1891, LL.B. in 1892, and Master of Arts in 1893.

Ritter was in private practice in Indianapolis from 1892 to 1895, in Denver, Colorado from 1895 to 1925. He moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 1925 for his wife's health.

President Calvin Coolidge nominated Ritter to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on January 23, 1929, to the seat vacated by Rhydon Mays Call. Confirmed by the Senate on February 15, 1929, he received his commission the same day.

On May 29, 1933, U.S. Representative J. Mark Wilcox of Florida introduced resolution (H. Res. 163) authorizing the House Judiciary Committee to investigate Ritter's conduct to "determine whether in the opinion of the committee he had been guilty of any high crime or misdemeanor." The resolution was referred to the Judiciary Committee.