Joseph Anderson Glasgow (March 31, 1867 – July 31, 1940) was an American lawyer and judge who served on Virginia's Eighteenth Judicial Circuit from 1928 until his death in 1940. Before joining the circuit court, he practiced law in Staunton, Virginia, and held office as the city's Commonwealth's attorney and police justice.
Biography
Glasgow was born in Fincastle, Virginia, on March 31, 1867. He was a son of Virginia state senator William Anderson Glasgow Sr. and his second wife, Grace Ellen Shanks Woodson Glasgow. His elder brother, William A. Glasgow Jr., became a prominent lawyer and federal official. Glasgow attended Washington and Lee University, graduating with its law class of 1891. His license to practice law was signed by judges William McLaughlin and Henry W. Blair. After his admission to the bar, Glasgow established a legal practice in Staunton. By 1896, he was serving as Commonwealth's attorney for the city. On December 16, 1896, Glasgow married Maria Washington Ranson of Staunton. They had two daughters, Elizabeth Ranson Glasgow and Eleanor Glasgow.
He later served several terms as Staunton's police justice. His right to continue in that office following a change in the method of selecting the police justice was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia in Wayt v. Glasgow in 1906.
In 1928, Governor Harry F. Byrd appointed Glasgow judge of Virginia's Eighteenth Judicial Circuit to complete the term of Henry W. Holt, who had been elevated to the state supreme court. The circuit included Augusta, Highland, and Rockbridge counties and the city of Buena Vista. He subsequently received a full term and remained on the bench until his death. During World War I, he served as the chairman of the Liberty Loan program in Augusta County.
Among the matters heard by Glasgow were Hamrick v. National Valley Bank of Staunton, Showker v. Hodge, Huffman v. Commonwealth, and Quillen v. Titus, each of which was later reviewed by the Supreme Court of Appeals. Glasgow also wrote a series of historical recollections entitled Some Memories, concerning early courts, lawyers, and judges in Augusta and neighboring counties.
Glasgow died on July 31, 1940, following an illness and an operation at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.