Isaac C. Parker

Isaac Charles Parker
Portrait of Isaac C. Parker, Fort Smith National Historic Site
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
In office March 19, 1875 – November 17, 1896
Appointed by	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	William Story
Succeeded by	John Henry Rogers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by	Joel Funk Asper
Succeeded by	David Rea
Constituency	7th district (1871–73) 9th district (1873–75)
Personal details
Born	Isaac Charles Parker (1838-10-15)October 15, 1838 Barnesville, Ohio
Died	November 17, 1896(1896-11-17) (aged 58) Fort Smith, Arkansas
Resting place	Fort Smith National Cemetery Fort Smith, Arkansas
Political party	Democratic (until 1864) Republican (from 1864)
Education	read law

Isaac Charles Parker (October 15, 1838 – November 17, 1896), also known as "Hanging Judge" Parker, was an American politician and jurist. He served as a United States representative from Missouri and was appointed as the first United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, which also had jurisdiction over Indian Territory.

Parker became known as the "Hanging Judge" of the American Old West, because he sentenced numerous convicts to death.^[1] In 21 years on the federal bench, Judge Parker tried 13,490 cases. In more than 8,500 of these cases, the defendant either pleaded guilty or was convicted at trial.^[2] Parker sentenced 160 people to death; 79 were executed.^[3][4] The other 81 either died while incarcerated, were pardoned, or had their sentences commuted.^[3][4]