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Charles F. McDevitt

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Charles McDevitt
Chief Justice of the
Idaho Supreme Court
In office
1993–1997
Preceded byRobert Bakes
Succeeded byLinda Copple Trout
Justice of the
Idaho Supreme Court
In office
August 31, 1989 – August 31, 1997
Appointed byCecil Andrus
Preceded byAllan Shepard
Succeeded byJesse Walters
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
In office
1963–1966
Personal details
BornJanuary 5, 1932
Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 2021(2021-05-29) (aged 89)
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Idaho (LLB)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceU.S. Army
Years of service1952–54
RankCorporal
Battles/warsCold War

Charles Francis McDevitt (January 5, 1932 – May 29, 2021) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist. He was a justice of the Idaho Supreme Court from 1989 to 1997, serving as chief justice from 1993 to 1997.

Early life and education

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Born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, McDevitt graduated from Pocatello High School and attended Idaho State College for a year. He transferred to the University of Idaho in Moscow, then served in the U.S. Army for two years, returned to the U of I in 1954, and received his LL.B degree from its College of Law in 1956.[1][2]

Career

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McDevitt practiced law in Boise and was general counsel for Boise Cascade from 1962 to 1968. In 1962, he was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives and was re-elected in 1964. He left the legislature in 1966 to become president of Beck Industries in New York City. He also worked as an executive at the Singer Corporation before returning to Boise, where he joined the Ada County Prosecutor's Office as a trial attorney.[1][3]

In August 1989, McDevitt was appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court by Governor Cecil Andrus; the seat was vacated by the death of Allan Shepard in May.[1][4][5]

Following his retirement from the court in 1997, McDevitt served on an ethics panel convened by the state legislature.[6]

Death

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McDevitt died in Boise in 2021 at the age of 89.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Boyle, McDevitt add experience to bench", The Times-News (August 8, 1989), p. B-4.
  2. ^ "Seniors". Gem of the Mountains. University of Idaho yearbook. 1956. p. 62.
  3. ^ "Givens Pursley LLP". Givens Pursley LLP. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  4. ^ "Andrus names 2 justices". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 8, 1989. p. 1A.
  5. ^ "Pocatello man sworn to state high court". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 1, 1989. p. 8B.
  6. ^ "Retired chief justice named to study panel", The Twin Falls Times-News (October 25, 1997), p. 12.
  7. ^ "Former Idaho Chief Justice Charles McDevitt dies at 89". Idaho Press. June 3, 2021.
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Political offices
Preceded by Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
1989–1997
Succeeded by