[2][3] Upon leaving college, Temple is reported to have gone to Newark, New Jersey, and commenced the study of the law in the office of Judge Ira C.

[13][14][15] In September 1864, Temple was the Copperhead Democratic candidate for United States Congress from the Third congressional district, but was defeated by John Bidwell.

[16][17] In 1867, when Henry H. Haight planned to run for governor he persuaded Temple to come to San Francisco and take over his law office.

[18] In 1870, Justice Silas Sanderson resigned and Temple was appointed to the California Supreme Court by his friend, Governor Henry Huntly Haight.

[20] In April 1876, Governor William Irwin appointed Temple as a judge of the 22nd District Court in Sonoma County.

[31][19] Temple served two-and-a-half years on the court, from December 1886 until resigning in June 1889 due to poor health.

Temple returned to private practice in Santa Rosa, opening a law firm with Judge John G.

[33][34] In October 1894, Temple ran on the Democratic Party ticket and was elected as an associate justice to the Supreme Court for a 12-year term, which he was still serving at the time of his death.