Hanford resigned in the face of an impeachment investigation by the United States House of Representatives.

[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 25, 1890, and received his commission the same day.

[1] In 1912, Hanford became the subject of public controversy, and an impeachment inquiry by the United States House of Representatives, after a ruling in which he revoked the citizenship of an immigrant as having been procured by fraud, allegedly due to the person's Socialist beliefs.

A House committee investigating the impeachment resolution heard testimony accusing Hanford of habitual drunkenness, and of having accepted financial favors from the Northern Pacific Railroad after making a ruling that reduced the company's tax liability.

[2] Hanford resigned his judgeship immediately after the testimony about the Northern Pacific transaction was completed, amid insinuations in the press that further witnesses were about to reveal even more corrupt behavior.