John Appleton (judge)

John Appleton (1804-1891) was an American jurist who served as the Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Appleton was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1822. He studied law and was admitted to the Maine bar in 1826, beginning his legal practice in Bangor. He served as the Reporter of Decisions for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court from 1832 to 1839, compiling and editing several volumes of Maine Reports.

In 1849, Appleton was appointed as an associate justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He served on the court for over thirty years, becoming Chief Justice in 1862 following the resignation of John S. Tenney. He remained Chief Justice until his retirement in 1883.

Appleton was known for his scholarship and his deep knowledge of the law. His legal opinions were often cited as authoritative. He was also a strong advocate for legal education and reform.

After retiring from the court, Appleton continued to live in Bangor. He died in 1891.

He authored several books, including works on evidence and rules of the road.