In November 1926 , Preston was elected as Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court for the remaining four-year term ending January 5 , 1931 , of Thomas J. Lennon , who died in August . In November 1930 , he successfully ran for a full term and was re-elected . In June 1935 , Preston announced he would retire before the end of his term to serve as special government attorney in the Elk Hills naval oil reserves case , part of the Teapot Dome scandal . On October 6 , 1935 , he stepped down from the bench and was replaced by Nathaniel P. Conrey . While on the Supreme Court , Preston is perhaps best known for acting as prosecutor at the 1930 pardon hearing of Warren K. Billings , who was convicted in connection with the 1916 Preparedness Day Bombing . After retiring from the Supreme Court , he continued to practice law . Preston died on February 18 , 1958 , in San Francisco
Preparedness Day Bombing
Preparedness Day Bombing
John W. Preston