Educated at Hamilton College, Rhodes studied law and then moved to Bloomfield, Indiana, being admitted to the bar there in 1846.

[2] He served one term as the prosecuting attorney for the circuit court (1849), and departed for California in 1854.

[4] In 1863, a constitutional amendment meant all of the seats of the Supreme Court of California were open for election.

[8][9][10][11] His first term expired January 1, 1872, and the Court referred the issue of whether he would continue to serve as Chief Justice to a panel of three San Francisco attorneys.

[16][17][18] The vacancy on the trial bench caused by Rhodes's retirement (at the age of 88) was filled by John E.