Joseph Siegler

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Joseph Siegler
Member of the
New Jersey General Assembly
for Essex County
In office
1919–1920
Judge of the Essex County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
In office
1927–1938
Personal details
Born(1889-09-06)September 6, 1889
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 1957(1957-05-17) (aged 67)
Newark, New Jersey
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materNew York University School of Law
OccupationLawyer

Joseph Siegler (September 6, 1889 – May 17, 1957) was an American Democratic politician and jurist from Newark, New Jersey who served in the New Jersey General Assembly.

Biography[edit]

Siegler was born in Newark, New Jersey on September 6, 1889. He was the son of Louis and Bertha Siegler. From age nine until entering law school, Siegler worked as a paperboy. He was a 1909 graduate of New York University Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1910. He was married on March 25, 1913 to Edith R. Unterman.[1] His brother-in-law was William Untermann, a Newark Police Court Judge and a Newark Democratic leader.[2]

He was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1918, and was re-elected in 1919.

In 1927, Governor A. Harry Moore appointed Siegler to serve as a Judge of the Essex County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. A 1937 ruling that parents could not provide home instruction for children equivalent to their training in school as members of a social group received national attention.[3] "It is almost impossible for a child to be adequately taught in his home," he ruled.[4] Siegler argued that juvenile delinquency was mostly a result of domestic unhappiness. He advocated that jurisdiction of the juvenile court be extended from 16 to 21; it was later extended to 19. He retired from the bench in 1938.[3]

Siegler ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1942, challenging two-term Republican Robert Kean. He was defeated by 17,754 votes, 43,942 (60.82%) to 26,188 (36.25%).[5]

He died of a heart ailment in 1957 at age 67.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sackett, William Edgar; Scannell, John James (1919). Scannell's New Jersey's First Citizens: Biographies and Portraits ..., Volume 2.
  2. ^ "WILLIAM UNTERMANN, JERSEY POLICE JUDGE - Newark Democratic Leader, 53, Ex-aide of Children's Society" (PDF). New York Times. 9 February 1944.
  3. ^ a b c "JOSEPH SIEGLER, LAWYER, WAS 67". New York Times. 17 May 1957.
  4. ^ "COUPLE CONVICTED AS SONS' TEACHERS; West Orange Parents Face a Fine for Withdrawing 2 Boys From School". New York Times. 6 January 1937.
  5. ^ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 12 January 2015.