[2][5] William Lorigan was elected twice to the position of city justice of San Jose, California.

[8] On January 5, 1903, he was named as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court by appointment of Governor Henry Gage.

In 1904, Lorigan won the election for the two-year remainder of Temple's unexpired term.

[13][14][15][16] In November 1918, he sought another term but rumors persisted about the fragility of his health,[17] and he was defeated in the election by Republican Thomas J.

[18][19][20] On April 2, 1919, Lorigan died in San Francisco shortly after stepping down from the high court.