Judge Sylvester Sadler

Sylvester Sadler, local lawyer, judge and later Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court was born in Carlisle on September 29^th, 1829.^[1] Sylvester was the second out of 4 sons of local judge Wilbur F. Sadler and followed in his father’s footsteps, attending Dickinson College and later Yale, finishing his studies in 1896^[2]. He returned home and attended the newly reopened Dickinson Law School, earning his law degree. Sadler immediately joined the staff at the law school. During this time, Sadler lived with his father and his brothers at the newly constructed Thornwald Estate in 1911. The mansion was located off Walnut Bottom Road, and remains standing today.

In 1924 Sadler became the Cumberland County Judge of Common Pleas, taking over the position from his father^[3]. He didn’t remain in this position for long, 1920 becoming a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The same year he also became president of the Dickinson Law School with the death of his father, and adopted the role of dean as well in 1928. Sadler enjoyed a short career as a Supreme Court justice, only serving until his death on February 28^th, 1931. Sadler’s legacy on the Supreme Court and on the Dickinson Law School can still be seen today, as his work is preserved in a collection of his cases aptly named “Sadler’s Cases”. Sylvester Sadler is buried with the rest of the Sadler clan at Ashland Cemetery.

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