Earl C. Latourette
| Earl C. Latourette | |
|---|---|
| 32nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office 1953–1955 |
|
| Preceded by | James T. Brand |
| Succeeded by | Harold J. Warner |
| 64th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office 1950–1956 |
|
| Appointed by | Douglas McKay |
| Preceded by | E. M. Page |
| Succeeded by | William M. McAllister |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 10, 1889 Oregon City, Oregon |
| Died | August 18, 1956 (aged 67) |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Marshall Latourette |
Earl Cornelius Latourette (February 10, 1889 – August 18, 1956) was the 32nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and a Clackamas County Circuit Court judge. He served as chief justice for two years and died while still in office as an associate justice in 1956.
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[edit] Early life
Latourette was born in Oregon City, Oregon, on February 10, 1889, to Charles David Latourette and his wife Sedonia Bird Shaw Latourette.[1] Both parents were pioneer settlers to Oregon.[1] He had three brothers; Mortimer Dillon, Howard Fenton, and John Randolph. After receiving his primary education in both Oregon City and nearby Portland, Oregon, Earl Latourette attended the University of Oregon in Eugene.[1]
There he was on the football and track teams.[citation needed] He was the quarterback on the 1910 Duck football team and scored the winning touchdown to beat what is now Oregon State University, and received All-Northwest Honors for two seasons.[citation needed] Following college, he enrolled at the University of Oregon School of Law, which at that time was located in Portland.[1] He graduated in 1912, and then passed the bar in 1915.[1] Latourette began practicing law in Oregon City after passing the bar, and remained in private practice until 1931.[1]
[edit] Judicial career
In 1931, he was appointed as a circuit court judge for Oregon’s 5th judicial district that included Clackamas County, holding that position until 1950.[1][2] During his time on the bench he lived in Oregon City, and in 1936 attended the funeral of fellow judge John Hugh McNary.[3] Then on January 19, 1950 Oregon Governor Douglas McKay appointed Latourette to replace E. M. Page on the Oregon Supreme Court.[4][5] Page had had resigned from his position the day before, less than a year after he had been appointed to the court.[5] Later that year Latourette won election to a full six-year term on the bench.[5] Then in 1953 he was selected by his fellow justices to be Chief Justice, serving as Chief Justice until 1955.[5] During this time as Chief Justice, future politician Norma Paulus clerked for him. Latourette encouraged her to attended law school, which she did at Willamette University College of Law.[6] On August 18, 1956, Justice Earl Latourette died in office[5]
[edit] Family
On April 30, 1912, Earl C. Latourette married Ruth Steiwer of Fossil, Oregon. Ruth was the daughter of William H. Steiwer, and a member of a prominent political family from Eastern Oregon.[1][7] The couple’s children included daughters Anne Latourette Cook, Jeanne Latourette Linklater and[8] Earl C. "Neil" Latourette, Jr. (d. 1982).[9] Earl C. later married Eleanor Marshall in 1949, and they did not have any children.
[edit] Other
- The oldest house in Gearhart, Oregon belonged to the Latourette family beginning in 1926. Earl’s father Charles David Latourette later had his two sons Earl and brother John flip a coin to determine who would inherit the property with John winning the coin toss.[10]
- Justice Latourette donated the land in Oregon City where the Clackamas County Historical Society’s museum is located.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
- ^ a b Patterson, Rod. New museum provides visitors with fine sense of county's history. The Oregonian, September 13, 1990.
- ^ Salem Pioneer Cemetery
- ^ Oregon Blue Book: Governors of Oregon
- ^ a b c d e Oregon Blue Book: Supreme Court Justices of Oregon
- ^ Oregon State Capitol Foundation: May 2006
- ^ Butterworth, Beverly. Grand time had by all at Sir James's party. The Oregonian, July 24, 1988.
- ^ UO Law School: Scholarship Programs
- ^ Nora Jane Doyle Latourette. The Oregonian, January 19, 1994.
- ^ Butterworth, Beverly. A bang-up celebraion heralds Fourth of July. The Oregonian, July 12, 1992.
