Ernest Alexander Inglis

Born: Ernest Alexander Inglis

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April 16, 1887

Middletown, CT

Died: December 9, 1972

Middletown, CT

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Spouse: Agnes Inglis (m. 1912)

Children: H. Thompson Inglis, Marian Waring, Jean Inglis Law, Sandy Inglis, and Dorothy Pritchard

Parents: Henry Dick Inglis and Sarah Emeline Horton Inglis

Education

• Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT: 1904-08
• Yale Law School, New Haven, CT: high honors, 1911

Career

• Practiced law in Middletown
• Judge of the Superior Court: Dec. 1, 1930-March, 1950
• Presided over Waterbury corruption trial, receiving nationwide attention: 1938-39
• Justice of the Supreme Court of Errors of Connecticut: March, 1950-October, 1953
• Chief Justice: October, 1953-1957
• State Referee

Accomplishments

Ernest A. Inglis Memorial Resolution

Letter from Agnes, dated Oct. 20, 1958: "Your grandfather Inglis became a Superior Court judge in 1930 and a Supreme Court Justice in 1950. In 1953 he became Chief Justice and continued until his seventieth birthday in April of 1957. You can read about him in Who’s Who. ... Grandfather Inglis was an only child ...."

Letter from Agnes, dated Oct. 27, 1958: "Your grandfather was born April 16, 1887 and I was born September 19, 1888, both of us in Middletown. We both went to Middletown High School and were graduated from Wesleyan University. Grandfather also was graduated from Yale Law School with high honors. We were and are both Phi Beta Kappas .... He has two honorary degrees, D.C.L. (Doctor of Civil Law) and LL.D. (Doctor of Laws). For several years before he became a judge he was a member of the Bar Examining Committee and a director of the Russell Manufacturing Company. He is at present a Trustee of Wesleyan University; a Trustee of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation (for [philanthropic] giving); a Director of the Middletown Savings Bank. He enjoys very much the Conversational Club of which he has been a member since 1920. Also he enjoys the University Club of Middletown. His work as a State Referee keeps him as busy as he wants to be and is work which he enjoys. Also he has always been a prominent member of the South Congregational Church for many years. ... Tomorrow night grandfather is going to the annual dinner of the State Bar Association where he always is placed at the head table. He enjoys getting together with lawyers and judges because he has many friends among them."

Middletown High School yearbook, 1904: "Ernest Alexander Inglis / Class President (1,2); Class Foot Ball team (2); Junior Promenade Committee (3); Member M.H.S.D.S. (3,4); Entertainment Committee (4); M.H.S. Foot Ball team (4); Chairman Base Ball Committee M.H.S.A.A. (4); Associate Editor Orange and Black (4); Graduation Essay."

Letter from Ernest, dated Aug. 22, 1967 (round-robin letter to Wesleyan class of 1908): "...After graduating from Yale Law School in 1911, I returned to Middletown to practice law. I continued in the practice until December 1, 1930 when I became a judge of the Superior Court. In March 1950 I went on the Supreme Court and in October 1953 became Chief Justice of the State. On reaching the age of seventy I had to retire as Chief Justice because of the age limit but then became a State Referee and I am still functioning as such.

"In 1912 Agnes Thompson, 1910, and I were married. We have five children and nine grandchildren.

"Living in Middletown I have been quite closely associated with Wesleyan. I became trustee in 1932 and continued as such until 1958 when I became trustee emeritus. Wesleyan has been kind enough to give me two honorary degrees. The first was a D.C.L. in 1943 and then an LL.D. in 1954.

"At the present time as State Referee it is my function to hear cases referred by any one of the trial courts; decide the facts and report them to the court making the reference and recommending judgment. I quite enjoy this work because at least it given me something to occupy my mind and if one has to retire at all it is nice to have something to do...."