Who appointed John Finis Philips?

President Grover Cleveland appointed John Finis Philips to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in 1888.

Was John Finis Philips appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?

John Finis Philips was appointed by President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.

What was John Finis Philips's confirmation vote?

John Finis Philips was confirmed by voice vote on June 25, 1888. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.

Western District of Missouri / Appointed 1888 / Served to 1910

John Finis Philips

Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Appointed by President Grover Cleveland in 1888 and confirmed by voice vote, John Finis Philips was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Sources ↓

Lived: 1834–1919
Appointed by: Grover Cleveland, 1888
Confirmed: by voice vote
Education: Centre College 1855
Succeeded: Arnold Krekel
Succeeded by: Arba Seymour Van Valkenburgh

Federal judicial service

Year	Court	Appointed by	Vote
1888	Western District of Missouri succeeded Arnold Krekel	Cleveland (D)	Voice vote

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

Centre College	A.B.	1855
Read law		1857

Questions & answers

Who appointed John Finis Philips?: President Grover Cleveland appointed John Finis Philips to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in 1888.
Was John Finis Philips appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?: John Finis Philips was appointed by President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was John Finis Philips's confirmation vote?: John Finis Philips was confirmed by voice vote on June 25, 1888. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was John Finis Philips on?: John Finis Philips was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Sources

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21 years on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).