Draft:Thomas James Clark Fagg

Thomas James Clark Flagg (July 15, 1822 – October 26, 1914) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1866 to 1868.

The vacancy caused by Judge Lovelace's death was filled by the promotion of Judge Fagg from the circuit court bench, which he had occupied for four years previously. Judge Flagg was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, July 15, 1822, and came to Missouri on his father's removal to Pike County in that State in 1836. He was admitted to practice in 1845, and for some years ensuing practised with Hon. James O. Broadhead. In November, 1850, he became probate judge; in 1855, a member of the Legislature; in 1856, judge of a common pleas court; in 1858, a member of the Legislature a second time; in 1861, a brigade-inspector and colonel; in 1862, a circuit judge; and in 1869, upon the expiration of his term as judge of the Supreme Court, he resumed the practice of his profession. These few lines disclose the busy life of a man ever active in public and professional duties. To complete the sketch, mention should be made of not a few candidacies for such positions as member of the General Assembly, Lieutenant-Governor, and Congressional seats.^[1]

We had heard on several occasions during the past two weeks, that Hon. T. J. C. Fagg, Judge of the Pike Circuit, had been appointed by Governor Fletcher, to fill the place oi the Supreme Court bench, made vacant by the death of Judge Walter L. Lovelace. On Monday Judge Fagg took his seat with Judges Wagner and Holmes. Judge Fagg is a man of some learning, more native talent, and an immense capacity for yawning and whittling. He is a Radical of the most Radical type, and is even more intolerant and vindictive in feeling than he is a fanatic in principle. Perhaps these qualifications eminently fit him for the place be now fills, and which it is altogether improbable he has the ability, under the circumstances of its organization, to disgrace. But whether be is or is not fitted lor the position of a Supreme Judge, one thing is very certain, and that is, four-fifths of the people of his late Circuit are eminently satisfied to know that they are rid of his presence as a Judge, and that be is placed in a position which, if it does not afford him an opportunity to do good, at least disables him to a good degree from committing mischief.^[2]

"Former Judges of the Supreme Court". www.courts.mo.gov.

"Thomas James Clark Flagg". Missouri Courts. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

References

^ L. C. Krauthoff, The Supreme Court of Missouri, in Horace Williams Fuller, ed., The Green Bag (1891), Vol. 3, p. 182.
^ "Successor to Judge Lovelace", Daily Missouri Republican (October 17, 1866), p. 2.