sentences:  In May 1870, he was appointed by Oregon Governor George L. Woods to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace Joseph G. Wilson who had resigned to run for Oregon's lone spot in the United States House of Representatives (lost in 1870, won in 1872).Whitten's term then ended in September of that same year and he left the court.During that time on the court, the Supreme Court stood in recess and Whitten did not hear any Supreme Court cases but did serve as a trial level judge as the high court still practiced circuit riding at that time.