Viewing Judge Jerome E. Porter (1843-1910).Judge Jerome E. Porter (1843-1910).Jerome Porter held two judgeships during the forty years he lived in Mankato. He was elected probate judge of Blue Earth County in 1872, and held that post for twelve years. He was elected Municipal Court Judge of Mankato in 1882, and re-elected in 1885 and 1888. He was re-elected by a narrow margin over Ira Shissler in 1891, but in a rematch in 1893, Shissler prevailed. Porter, however, would not relinquish his office, arguing that he was entitled to serve the last year of the three year term set by the legislature when it authorized the municipal court in 1885. To oust Porter, Shissler brought a quo warranto proceeding in the Supreme Court. On May 19, 1893, the Court ruled in Porter's favor, State ex rel. Shissler v. Porter, 53 Minn. 279 (1893).
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