Owen Thomas Rouse | |
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Associate Justice, Arizona Territorial Supreme Court | |
In office April 25, 1893 – July 8, 1897 |
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Nominated by | Grover Cleveland |
Preceded by | Joseph Henry Kibbey |
Succeeded by | Fletcher M. Doan |
Personal details | |
Born |
Florence, Kentucky |
January 4, 1843
Died | September 8, 1919 Tucson, Arizona |
(aged 76)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Louise Mosley |
Profession | Attorney |
Owen Thomas Rouse (January 4, 1843 – September 8, 1919) was an American jurist who served as Associate Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court from 1893 until 1897.
Rouse was born to Joshua and Tabitha (Souther) Rouse in Florence, Kentucky, on January 4, 1843. While he was still a child, his family moved to Monroe County, Missouri. He was educated in local schools before he began reading law under a local attorney. He graduated from the Union Law School in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1867. Following graduation, Rouse practiced law in Paris, Missouri, before moving to Moberly. He was a member of the Missouri State Senate from 1880 until 1884. While in office, he served as chairman of the committee on criminal jurisprudence. Rouse married Louisa Mosley in the early 1870s. The union produced one son, Charles Oma Rouse.
Following the inauguration of President Grover Cleveland, Rouse requested appointment as a judge in either Utah or New Mexico Territory. He expanded his list to include Arizona Territory several months later. He was appointed Arizona's United States District Attorney on November 2, 1885. Justice William Wood Porter administered Rouse's oath of office on November 20. On May 24, 1889, following the inauguration of President Benjamin Harrison, Rouse submitted his resignation. He remained in Tucson, and established a private legal practice. Fraternally, he was a Mason and served as grand commander for the Knights Templar.
President Cleveland returned to office and nominated Rouse to become an Associate Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court on April 25, 1893. He was assigned to district two, comprising Gila, Graham, and Pinal counties. Rouse lived in Solomonville during his years on the court. When rumors circulated in 1895 and 1896 that Chief Justice Albert C. Baker planned to resign, Rouse's friends began lobbying for him to be made the new Chief Justice.