Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Parker, Alton Brooks

PARKER, ALTON BROOKS, an American jurist and publicist; born in Cortland, N. Y., in 1852. Studied at academies and schools and graduated from the Albany Law School in 1873. He was admitted to the bar and practiced in Ulster co. from 1877 to 1885. In the latter year he was appointed chairman of the State Democratic Committee. He was justice of the Supreme Court of New York in 1885 and a member of the Court of Appeals from 1889 to 1902. From 1898 to 1904 he was chief justice of this court and resigned to accept the Democratic nomination for the presidency. He took a prominent part in political affairs, serving as chairman of the Democratic State Convention in 1908. He served as chief counsel in many important cases in New York and elsewhere. He was president of the American Bar Association in 1906 and 1907.