Ferdinand August Geiger was born October 15, 1867, in Cassville, Wisconsin, the son of John and Josephine Geiger, German immigrants. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1888 and from its Law School in 1890. From 1888 to 1890, he also worked as clerk in the Madison law office of John M. Olin. He soon left Madison for Milwaukee where he opened an office and practiced law for eighteen years.
In 1912, Geiger was appointed United States District Judge for Eastern Wisconsin. He became nationally known in this position in December, 1937, when he became a central figure in claims by the judiciary that the U.S. Justice Department was attempting to use the courts and their powers in an unethical manner. Geiger refused to permit a U.S. assistant attorney general to bargain with automobile finance companies for the entry of a consent decree in a civil action under threat of an indictment under the anti-trust law. As a result of this refusal, the Justice Department requested the House of Representatives to investigate Judge Geiger with an implicit view toward impeachment proceedings. Geiger was vindicated of any blame in the ensuing actions.
Because of illness, Judge Geiger resigned May 22, 1939. He died in Milwaukee on July 31 of that same year.
