Born in State Line City, Indiana, Stephens read law in 1899 and received a Bachelor of Laws from the USC Gould School of Law in 1903. He was in private practice of law in Los Angeles, California from 1899 to 1906. He was a Justice of the Peace in Los Angeles from 1906 to 1910. He was in private practice from 1910 to 1911. He was a civil service commissioner for State of California from 1911 to 1913. He was city attorney of Los Angeles from 1913 to 1919. He was in private practice from 1919 to 1920. He was a Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County from 1919 to 1932.[1] He was appointed by GovernorJames Rolph as an associate justice of the District Court of Appeal, succeeding Ira F. Thompson and serving from 1932 to 1933 and then serving as Presiding Justice of that court from 1933 to 1935.[2]
Stephens was nominated by President Roosevelt on June 8, 1937, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, to a new seat created by 50 Stat. 64. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 15, 1937, and received his commission on June 18, 1937. He served as Chief Judge from July 3, 1957 to February 1, 1959 and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1957 to 1958. He assumed senior status on January 25, 1961. His service was terminated on January 15, 1965, due to his death.[1][3][4]
