Born in San Bernardino, California, Bledsoe received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Stanford University in 1896, and read law to enter the bar.

[1] Bledsoe heard the case of Robert Goldstein who produced The Spirit of '76, a patriotic film about the American Revolution.

Released just as World War I was starting federal censors required depictions of British atrocities to be cut.

Bledsoe sentenced him to 10 years in prison and the media and public opinion turned harshly against him despite initially favorable reviews.

[2] Bledsoe resigned from the federal bench to run for Mayor of Los Angeles, California, but was unsuccessful in that bid.