C. C. Bridgewater
Encyclopedia
Carroll C. Bridgewater, Jr. (born July 8, 1944) is a former judge
of Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals
, having been out on the court in November 1994 and holding the post until leaving in 2010 due to a heart attack.
Bridgewater received an Bachelor of Arts
in philosophy
from Stanford University
in 1966 and was given a law degree
from the University of Texas School of Law
in 1969.
After leaving the University of Texas Law School, Bridgewater joined the Federal Trade Commission
to do work in consumer protection
in Kansas City, Missouri
. Three years later, he became a deputy prosecuting attorney
in Cowlitz County, Washington
. He left government employment two years later to enter private practice
to be a domestic relations
, health care
, and criminal defense attorney
. In 1986, he was given the post of Prosecuting Attorney
of Cowlitz County, which he held until being named to the Washington Court of Appeals
in 1994. He was retained by the electorate in 1995, 1998, and 2004.
On June 4, 2010, Bridgewater suffered a heart attack in Nuremberg
, Germany
while on vacation in Europe
and was in a medically induced coma
for five weeks. Consequently, he missed the June 11 deadline to file for re-election to the Court.
During his 16 years on the court, he wrote 1,500 opinions and edited 3,000 opinions.
He was replaced on the court by Jill Johanson, who had worked for him in the Cowlitz County Prosecutor's office.
Bridgewater lives in Castle Rock, Washington
, with his wife, Kay, with whom he has three sons.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals
Washington Court of Appeals
The Washington Court of Appeals is the intermediate level appellate court for the state of Washington.The court is divided into three divisions. Division I is based in Seattle, Division II is based in Tacoma, and Division III is based in Spokane....
, having been out on the court in November 1994 and holding the post until leaving in 2010 due to a heart attack.
Bridgewater received an Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1966 and was given a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
in 1969.
After leaving the University of Texas Law School, Bridgewater joined the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
to do work in consumer protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. Three years later, he became a deputy prosecuting attorney
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
in Cowlitz County, Washington
Cowlitz County, Washington
Cowlitz County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census its population was 102,410. It forms the Longview, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. The county seat is at Kelso, and its largest city is Longview...
. He left government employment two years later to enter private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
to be a domestic relations
Domestic relations
In the common law tradition, the law of domestic relations is a broad category that encompasses:* divorce;* property settlements;* alimony, spousal support, or other maintenance;* the establishment of paternity;...
, health care
Health law
Health Law is the federal, state, and local law, rules, regulations and other jurisprudence affecting the health care industry and their application to health care patients, providers and payors, and vendors to the health care industry, including without limitation the relationships among...
, and criminal defense attorney
Criminal defense lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal conduct. Criminal defense lawyers can be permanently employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts. Such lawyers are often called public defenders. For a much more...
. In 1986, he was given the post of Prosecuting Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Cowlitz County, which he held until being named to the Washington Court of Appeals
Washington Court of Appeals
The Washington Court of Appeals is the intermediate level appellate court for the state of Washington.The court is divided into three divisions. Division I is based in Seattle, Division II is based in Tacoma, and Division III is based in Spokane....
in 1994. He was retained by the electorate in 1995, 1998, and 2004.
On June 4, 2010, Bridgewater suffered a heart attack in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
while on vacation in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and was in a medically induced coma
Induced coma
A barbiturate-induced coma, or barb coma, is a temporary coma brought on by a controlled dose of a barbiturate drug, usually pentobarbital or thiopental...
for five weeks. Consequently, he missed the June 11 deadline to file for re-election to the Court.
During his 16 years on the court, he wrote 1,500 opinions and edited 3,000 opinions.
He was replaced on the court by Jill Johanson, who had worked for him in the Cowlitz County Prosecutor's office.
Bridgewater lives in Castle Rock, Washington
Castle Rock, Washington
Castle Rock is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. Nestled between the Willapa Hills and western base of Mount St. Helens, Castle Rock is at the heart of Washington timber country in the Pacific temperate rain forest...
, with his wife, Kay, with whom he has three sons.