San Francisco County
Biographies
THOMAS D. RIORDAN
THOMAS D. RIORDAN,
an attorney of San Francisco, was
born in this city, in 1855, and has therefore grown up with the place. His early studies, his later pupilage, and
the culmination of his student researches, which were fostered under the benign
guidance of the faculty of St. Ignatius
College, were all completed within the limits of
his native city. His diligence and
talent enabled him to graduate with high honors. In 1873 he received the degree of Bachelor of
Arts, and in 1874 that of Master of Arts.
He read law in the office of B. S. Brooks, now deceased, then a
prominent member of the bar, and in 1879 he was
admitted to practice by the Supreme court of this State; his practice soon
afterward became highly remunerative. He
was appointed attorney for the Chinese consul, which position he still
retains. In 1884 he visited Washington
and was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United
States.
He argued before that court the validity of the Restriction act of 1884,
involving the rights of courts to issue writs of habeas corpus. He was also attorney to test the validity of
the Scott Exclusion act. A very important
case in which he was engaged was that of San Francisco
vs. property holders, known as the Hamilton Square
case. It was finally decided by the
Supreme Court in favor of the owners, early in 1890. The certificate and fraud case was one in
which he gained the acquittal of his clients.
He has attained a high reputation for his legal abilities, and is
esteemed by his compeers as a worthy member of the bar.
Transcribed
by Cathi Skyles.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2,
page 303-304, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Cathi Skyles.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library