Byron Kosciusko Elliott (September 4, 1835 – April 19, 1913) was an American lawyer, judge, and jurist from the state of Indiana.
[3] Initially a Democrat supporting Stephen A. Douglas in the 1860 United States presidential election, Elliott switched to the Republican Party at the outbreak of the American Civil War.
[4][5] Elliott was elected to the Indiana Supreme Court in 1880, taking office the following January and serving two six-year terms before his retirement.
During his time on the Supreme Court, Elliott and his fellow Justices dealt with many cases regarding interpretation of the Indiana state constitution.
Elliott authored numerous influential opinions in a number of cases that overturned legislative efforts to interfere in the court activities—for instance, the Court at this time overturned legislation that established the offices of commissioners, appointed by the General Assembly, who were to assist the Justices in their duties.
His opinions and legal philosophy were influenced by his favorite writers; Aristotle, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant.
[3] William F. Elliott became a successful lawyer himself and published a number of influential books, treatises, and articles about law.