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'''Stephen Field''' was Chief Justice of the [[California]] state Supreme Court and an associate justice of the [[United States Supreme Court]].  He was appointed by President [[Abraham Lincoln]] for his expertise in Mexican land law, which under the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] remained in effect in California.

'''Stephen Field''' was Chief Justice of the [[California]] state Supreme Court and an associate justice of the [[United States Supreme Court]].  President [[Abraham Lincoln]] appointed him to the Supreme Court in 1863 for his expertise in Mexican land law, which under the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] remained in effect in California.

At the time, the Supreme Court justices "rode the circuit" to judge circuit court cases individually.  Field was the second justice assigned to the Tenth Circuit encompassing California and Oregon.  His predecessor had been the only circuit judge not on the Supreme Court; however, Field was, bringing the Supreme Court to ten justices.

At the time, the Supreme Court justices "rode the circuit" to judge circuit court cases individually.  Field was the second justice assigned to the Tenth Circuit encompassing California and Oregon.  His predecessor had been the only circuit judge not on the Supreme Court; however, Field was, bringing the Supreme Court to ten justices.

Field arrived in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] for his first court term in 1863, in the middle of the [[American Civil War]].  He said:

Field arrived in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] for his first court term in 1863, in the middle of the [[American Civil War]].  He said:

{{quotebox|When I came here the country was in the midst of war.  Washington was one great camp, and now and then the boom of cannon could be heard from the other side of the Potomac.  But we could not say ''[[inter arma silent leges]]''.  This court met in regular session, never once failing in time or place, and its work went on as though there were no sound of battle.}}

{{quotebox|When I came here the country was in the midst of war.  Washington was one great camp, and now and then the boom of cannon could be heard from the other side of the Potomac.  But we could not say ''[[inter arma silent leges]]''.  This court met in regular session, never once failing in time or place, and its work went on as though there were no sound of battle.}}