Draft:William H. Gabbert

William H. Gabbert (October 12, 1849 – July 17, 1923) was an associate justice of the Colorado Supreme Court from 1898 to 1917.

Born, Blue Grass Township, Scott County, Iowa; graduate High Schools, Davenport, Iowa; married Eva Wilder Adams, December, 1883; one child; admitted Iowa Bar, 1870; Colorado Bar, 1883; District Judge, Seventh District, two terms; Judge Colorado Supreme Court, ten terms, 19 years.

Judge Gabbert's father settled near Davenport Iowa and it was on a farm in Blue Grass Township that the judge was born and grew to manhood. He attended the High School at Davenport and at the age of 19 began the study of law. In 1870 he was admitted to the Bar. He practiced law in Texas a short time and returned to Davenport where like most lawyers he participated in politics and was elected clerk of the district and circuit courts. In 1879 he came to Colorado and engaged in mining for several years in a number of camps. He finally began the practice of law at Telluride and was very successful. He was appointed judge of the seventh judicial district and was elected for the full term in 1894. In 1897 he was elected justice of the supreme court. Gabbert's experience in mining while not financially successful gave him such a practical grasp and knowledge of the business that later when it devolved upon him to decide mining litigation he was in a position to pass on these with the greatest enlightenment and insight.

"He had been a resident of Colorado since 1879, and was a judge of the Seventh District Court of Colorado from 1893 until 1897. He was a justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado from 1898 through 1916; and was chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado from 1904 until 1907. and from 1915 through 1916. About a year ago he retired from active practice owing to ill health".

References

Category:Justices of the Colorado Supreme Court

This open draft remains in progress as of July 5, 2023.