Erskine Mayo Ross

Erskine Mayo Ross (June 30, 1845 – December 10, 1928) was an American attorney and jurist from California. He served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in from 1895 until 1928, having assumed senior status in 1925. A native of Virginia, previously he was a judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and the Supreme Court of California. He is also one of the three founding fathers of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

Erskine M. Ross was born in Belpre, Virginia on June 30, 1845, in Culpeper County. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, leaving school twice during the Civil War to assist the Confederate Army and then returning for further training, graduating in 1865.

In 1868, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and joined the law office of his uncle, Cameron E. Thom, a prominent lawyer and former state senator who would later serve as Mayor of Los Angeles. After studying law at Thom's office for two years, Ross was admitted to the bar of the district court. In 1875 he joined the bar of the state supreme court, having already become wealthy and famous through his partnership with his uncle.

In 1888, he was elected to the Supreme Court of California. A Democrat, he was elected at age 34 without having served on the bench of any lower court. Ross was nominated on December 16, 1886 to a newly created position on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California by United States President Grover Cleveland.

The United States Senate confirmed him for the seat on January 13, 1887, and he received his federal court commission that same day. He served on that court for eight years. Ross was nominated on February 19, 1895 to a newly created position on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by Grover Cleveland, and he was confirmed and received his commission on February 22, 1895. He assumed senior status on May 31, 1925 and served until his death on December 10, 1928.

In his will, Ross bequeathed $100,000 to endow an essay contest administered by the American Bar Association. The essay contest spawned a well-known tax case, in which a winner avoided paying income tax on his prize money. Congress later amended the tax code so that such winnings would be taxed. The topic for the 2009 Ross Essay Contest is Write an open letter to the new president and Congress describing the most important priority for improving the U.S. justice system.