Sam G. Bratton

Sam G. Bratton
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
In office June 1, 1933 – March 1, 1961
Appointed by	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	John Hazelton Cotteral
Succeeded by	Oliver Seth
United States Senator from New Mexico
In office March 4, 1925 – June 24, 1933
Preceded by	Holm O. Bursum
Succeeded by	Carl Hatch
Personal details
Born	Sam Gilbert Bratton (1888-08-19)August 19, 1888 Kosse, Texas
Died	September 22, 1963(1963-09-22) (aged 75) Albuquerque, New Mexico
Political party	Democratic

Sam Gilbert Bratton (August 19, 1888 – September 22, 1963) was a Democratic Party politician from the state of New Mexico who served in the United States Senate from 1925 until 1933.

Bratton was born in Kosse, Texas on August 19, 1888, where he attended the public schools. A graduate of the state Normal School, he taught school for some years in Claude and Hereford.

He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1909, whereupon he began practice in Farwell, Texas. He continued his practice upon moving to Clovis, New Mexico in 1915; from 1919 to 1921 he served as the district court judge for the fifth judicial district of that state. Upon division of the district, he continued in the same capacity for the ninth judicial district until 1923, when he became an Associate Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. He remained in this position until 1924, when he resigned to accept the nomination for Senate. Elected in 1924 and reelected in 1930. As a senator Bratton chaired the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation.

Bratton resigned from the Senate on June 1, 1933, upon his appointment as a circuit judge. On that day, Bratton was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated by John Hazelton Cotteral. Bratton was confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission, the same day. He served as chief judge from 1956 to 1959, and assumed senior status on March 1, 1961, serving in this capacity until his death. He died in Albuquerque on September 22, 1963, and is buried in that city's Fairview Park Cemetery.

References

• "Sam Gilbert Bratton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Sam Gilbert Bratton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.