New Books in Political Science Raymond J. McKoski, "David Davis, Abraham Lincoln's Favorite Judge" (U Illinois Press, 2025)
Oct 3, 2025
Raymond J. McKoski, a retired Illinois circuit judge and adjunct professor, shares insights from his new book on David Davis, one of Abraham Lincoln's key allies. They discuss the crucial role Davis played in Lincoln's 1860 presidential nomination and his close personal relationship with the future president. McKoski highlights Davis's remarkable impartiality as a judge, his bipartisan reputation, and the strategic decisions that influenced important Civil War-era rulings. Their deep friendship and shared commitment to integrity shaped both their careers in extraordinary ways.
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Discovery At The Davis Mansion
- Raymond J. McKoski discovered David Davis after visiting the David Davis Mansion and reading his letters.
- That visit sparked a deep research effort into Davis's life, friendship with Lincoln, and letters.
Then Versus Now In Judicial Ethics
- Judicial standards changed since the 19th century: judges were judged more by conduct in court than outside activities.
- Modern rules emphasize appearances and outside conduct that Davis's era did not prioritize.
Focused Biography Approach
- McKoski frames the biography around two cores: Davis's role in Lincoln's political rise and his judicial impartiality.
- He focuses on evidence from letters to prove Davis's impartial reputation despite modern ethics violations.
