Silbert, Samuel H., 1883-1976

Latvian immigrant to Cleveland who became a lawyer and judge. He served as Assistant Police Prosecutor (1912-1915), Municipal Court Judge (1915-1924), and Chief Justice of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (1955-1963). Silbert was a noted authority on divorce law.

From the description of Papers, 1902-1969. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 17383064

Samuel H. Silbert (1883-1976) was born in Riga, Latvia, the oldest of four children. When he was five years old, his father died unexpectedly, leaving his family impoverished. In his autobiography, Judge Sam, Silbert described the situation in which he and his family were left: "When father died, we moved; then we sold our cow. Then our calf. Finally, the struggle for existence was such that mother decided we would have to sell the books or go without the necessities of life. Even then, with four small children, the money she received would be no more than a stop-gap. She decided to use the receipts to take the family to America."

Once in the United States, the family settled in Newark, New Jersey. Financial stability eluded the Silberts, however, and Samuel felt obliged to help support the family as a newspaper boy. In 1900, the Silberts resettled in Denver, Colorado. Samuel, however, could not secure permanent employment in Denver, and in 1902 moved without his family to Cleveland, Ohio. Silbert remained in Cleveland for the rest of his life, and there achieved his greatest success.

In Cleveland, Silbert realized that his eighth grade education was not sufficient to secure decent employment. He enrolled in night school, receiving a high school diploma from Central Institute in 1904 and a bachelor of law degree from Cleveland Law School in 1907.

Silbert engaged in the private practice of law for four years, retiring from that endeavor in 1911 when he was appointed Police Prosecutor by Newton D. Baker, Mayor of Cleveland. He served as Police Prosecutor until 1915 when he was elected Judge of the Municipal Court. He was reelected Municipal Court Judge in 1919 for a six year term. In 1924, Samuel Silbert was elected Judge of the Common Pleas Court, a position he held until 1954 when he was elected by his fellow Judges to serve as their Chief Judge. He resumed the bench as a "working judge" in 1963, although his colleagues insisted that he accept the title of Chief Judge Emeritus. Judge Silbert retired from the bench in 1967.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Samuel H. Silbert

From the guide to the Samuel H. Silbert Papers, 1902-1969, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Samuel H. Silbert (1883-1976) was born in Riga, Latvia, the oldest of four children. When he was five years old, his father died unexpectedly, leaving his family impoverished. In his autobiography, Judge Sam, Silbert described the situation in which he and his family were left: "When father died, we moved; then we sold our cow. Then our calf. Finally, the struggle for existence was such that mother decided we would have to sell the books or go without the necessities of life. Even then, with four small children, the money she received would be no more than a stop-gap. She decided to use the receipts to take the family to America."

Once in the United States, the family settled in Newark, New Jersey. Financial stability eluded the Silberts, however, and Samuel felt obliged to help support the family as a newspaper boy. In 1900, the Silberts resettled in Denver, Colorado. Samuel, however, could not secure permanent employment in Denver, and in 1902 moved without his family to Cleveland, Ohio. Silbert remained in Cleveland for the rest of his life, and there achieved his greatest success.

In Cleveland, Silbert realized that his eighth grade education was not sufficient to secure decent employment. He enrolled in night school, receiving a high school diploma from Central Institute in 1904 and a bachelor of law degree from Cleveland Law School in 1907.

Silbert engaged in the private practice of law for four years, retiring from that endeavor in 1911 when he was appointed Police Prosecutor by Newton D. Baker, Mayor of Cleveland. He served as Police Prosecutor until 1915 when he was elected Judge of the Municipal Court. He was reelected Municipal Court Judge in 1919 for a six year term. In 1924, Samuel Silbert was elected Judge of the Common Pleas Court, a position he held until 1954 when he was elected by his fellow Judges to serve as their Chief Judge. He resumed the bench as a "working judge" in 1963, although his colleagues insisted that he accept the title of Chief Judge Emeritus. Judge Silbert retired from the bench in 1967.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Samuel H. Silbert

From the guide to the Samuel H. Silbert Photographs, 1920-1965, (Western Reserve Historical Society)