Byron Sylvester Waite

Byron Sylvester Waite (September 27, 1852 – December 31, 1930) was a Judge for the United States Customs Court.

Biography

Waite was born on September 27, 1852, in Penfield, New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1880 from the University of Michigan and read law. He worked in private practice in Wayne County, Michigan from 1881 to 1889. He served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1889 to 1890 and again from 1895 to 1896. He served as assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne County from 1895 to 1898. He served as a Judge for the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan from 1898 to 1900.

Federal Judicial Service

On June 13, 1902, President Roosevelt nominated Waite to serve as a Member of the Board of General Appraisers, to the seat vacated by Charles H. Ham. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 19, 1902, and received his commission on June 25, 1902. On May 28, 1926, he was transferred by operation of law to the newly created United States Customs Court. He served on the court until his retirement on November 1, 1930, two days after the New York Supreme Court ruled against his former daughter in law (Olive Celeste Moore-White-Waite-Matthews) and American Express for receiving a shipment of rugs and carpets (August 1919) from the United States Customs House without ever meeting the terms of the bill of lading. Judge Waite died at home thirteen months later and was succeeded by Judge Walter Howard Evans.

Death

Waite died on December 31, 1930, in Yonkers, New York.