William Josiah Tilson
Presiding Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office 1932–1934
Preceded by	George M. Young
Succeeded by	Charles P. McClelland
Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office February 28, 1928 – May 26, 1949
Appointed by	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	William Barberie Howell
Succeeded by	Morgan Ford
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
In office March 5, 1927 – March 19, 1928
Appointed by	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	himself
Succeeded by	Bascom Sine Deaver
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
In office July 6, 1926 – March 4, 1927
Appointed by	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	Seat established by 44 Stat. 670
Succeeded by	himself
Personal details
Born	William Josiah Tilson (1871-08-13)August 13, 1871 Clear Branch, Tennessee, US
Died	May 26, 1949(1949-05-26) (aged 77) Sunapee, New Hampshire, US
Education	Yale University (A.B.) Yale Law School (LL.B., LL.M.)

William Josiah Tilson (August 13, 1871 – May 26, 1949) was briefly a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia and was a Judge of the United States Customs Court.

Born on August 13, 1871, in Clear Branch, Tennessee, Tilson received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1894 from Yale University, a Bachelor of Laws in 1896 from Yale Law School and a Master of Laws in 1897 from the same institution. He was in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia from 1898 to 1926.^[1]

Tilson received a recess appointment from President Calvin Coolidge on July 6, 1926, to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, to a new seat authorized by 44 Stat. 670. He was nominated to the same position by President Coolidge on December 7, 1926. His service terminated on March 4, 1927, after nomination was not confirmed by the United States Senate, his nomination having been withdrawn on February 8, 1927. He had been previously nominated to the same position on June 9, 1926, but that nomination was withdrawn on June 19, 1926.^[1]

Tilson received a second recess appointment to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia from President Coolidge on March 5, 1927, to the seat vacated by himself. His service terminated on March 19, 1928, due to his resignation to accept a judgeship on a different court.^[1]

Tilson was nominated by President Coolidge on February 6, 1928, to an Associate Justice seat (Judge from June 17, 1930) on the United States Customs Court vacated by Associate Justice William Barberie Howell. He was confirmed by the Senate on February 27, 1928, and received his commission on February 28, 1928. He served as Presiding Judge from 1932 to 1934. His service terminated on May 26, 1949, due to his death in Sunapee, New Hampshire.^[2] He was succeeded by Judge Morgan Ford.^[1]

• William Josiah Tilson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.