Elijah Carson Hart (September 9, 1856 - January 18, 1929)

Associate Justice, January 1907 - January 1929

Elijah Carson Hart (September 9, 1856 - January 18, 1929)Born in Nevada, September 9, 1856, in a California bound covered wagon, Elijah Carson Hart spent his earliest years in Nicolaus, California. When the family moved to Colusa County, he left school at age 12 to work as a printer's devil (i.e., press lever operator) for the Colusa Sun. At age 21, he was elected city clerk of Colusa, but left the position to take over the editorial responsibilities for the Oroville Mercury. Less than a year later, Hart purchased the Willows Journal, which he published until 1884, at which time he sold the paper and moved to Sacramento to study law under the tutelage of his brother, A.L. Hart (Attorney General of the State). He was admitted to practice in 1885, and the following year was elected City Attorney of Sacramento, a position he held until 1888, when he was elected to the State Assembly. In 1890, he was elected again as City Attorney, and served until November 1892, when he was elected to the California State Senate. In 1896 he was appointed Judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento, and in 1906 he was elected to the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, where he served for 22 years. Justice Hart died at 1:15 a.m., January 18, 1929, two hours after his son, Cavins (deputy clerk of the Court), found him collapsed in his chambers in the new Library and Courts Building.