Seth May

Seth May (July 2, 1802 – September 20, 1881),[1] was a Maine attorney who served as a justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court from May 6, 1855 to May 7, 1862.[1][2]

Born in Winthrop, Maine, May attended the Monmouth Academy and the Hallowell Academy, and "began his career as an accountant",[1] but was unhappy with his employment, and therefore read law to gain admission to the bar in 1831.[3] May entered the practice of law in Winthrop that year, and remained in private practice until 1855.[1]

On May 6, 1855, May was appointed by Governor Anson Morrill as an associate justice of the state supreme court,[3] to a seat newly created by the legislature in the previous session.[4] In 1861, May coauthored a ruling on fugitive slaves, holding that the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was unconstitutional, and that the state of Maine had the right to protect alleged fugitive slaves through its own personal liberty laws.[5] He retired from the bench on May 6, 1862,[3] and returned to private practice, also serving as a Referee in Bankruptcy from 1867 to 1873.[1]

He died at Auburn, Maine, at the age of 79.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "The Supreme Judicial Court of the State of Maine, 1820 to 2009". Nathan & Henry B. Cleaves Law Library. Retrieved December 22, 2019. Citing In Memoriam Seth May, 74 ME 601.
  2. ^ "Maine Supreme Court Chief and Associate Justices". Maine State Legislature. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Maine Genealogy Archives, Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justices, 1820-1920.
  4. ^ "New Judge of the Supreme Court". The Norway, Maine Advertiser-Democrat. May 11, 1855. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "1861 Supreme Court Opinion of Justices May and Goodenow Regarding Fugitive Slaves". 1764-1865. February 21, 1861.
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