Charles E. Wolverton
Encyclopedia
Charles Edwin Wolverton (May 16, 1851-September 21, 1926) was an American
state and federal judge in the state of Oregon
. He was the 18th Chief Justice
on the Oregon Supreme Court
. He served as the chief twice during his eleven years on Oregon
’s highest court, followed by 21 years on the bench of Oregon's sole federal court.
, to John Wolverton and his wife the former Mary Jane Nealy. In 1853 the family immigrated to the Oregon Territory
. There Charles received an education at Christian College
in Monmouth, Oregon
, earning a bachelor of science degree in 1871. The following year he earned an A.B. from the same school. Wolverton then returned east and earned a law degree from the University of Kentucky’s law school
in 1874.
Charles returned to Oregon where he began private practice in Albany, Oregon
from 1874 until 1894. During this time he was the attorney for the Linn County
School Board from 1878 to 1881. Also while in private practice Wolverton married Clara Ellen Price in 1878, a marriage from which there would be no children.
. He won re-election for a second six-year term in 1900. During his time on the court he served as chief justice twice from 1898 to 1900 and then again in 1905 until he resigned on December 4, 1905. Thomas G. Hailey
was appointed by Oregon Governor George Earle Chamberlain
to finish Wolverton’s term. While on the court he received an honorary law degree from Willamette University College of Law
in 1900.
Wolverton resigned from the Oregon Supreme Court in order to accept the position of federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
. President Theodore Roosevelt
appointed Wolverton to the position on November 20, 1905 during a recess in Congress to replace Charles B. Bellinger
who had died in office. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate
on January 10, 1906, and received his commission the same day. Wolverton would serve on the federal bench until his death on September 21, 1926 in Gearhart, Oregon
.
After each stint as chief justice on the Oregon court he was followed by Robert S. Bean
. Bean would then join Wolverton on the federal court in 1909 when Congress added an additional judgeship to the Oregon district.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state and federal judge in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was the 18th Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
on the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
. He served as the chief twice during his eleven years on Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
’s highest court, followed by 21 years on the bench of Oregon's sole federal court.
Early life
Charles Wolverton was born on May 16, 1851, in Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, to John Wolverton and his wife the former Mary Jane Nealy. In 1853 the family immigrated to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
. There Charles received an education at Christian College
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
in Monmouth, Oregon
Monmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
, earning a bachelor of science degree in 1871. The following year he earned an A.B. from the same school. Wolverton then returned east and earned a law degree from the University of Kentucky’s law school
University of Kentucky College of Law
The College of Law is a college of the University of Kentucky. Founded initially from a law program at Transylvania University in 1799, the law program at UK began operations in 1908; it was one of the nation's first public law schools...
in 1874.
Legal career
Following law schoolLaw school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
Charles returned to Oregon where he began private practice in Albany, Oregon
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
from 1874 until 1894. During this time he was the attorney for the Linn County
Linn County, Oregon
Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American occupation of the Oregon Country. By the 2010 US census the population of Linn county was 116,672 showing a 13.2% growth since the 2000 census...
School Board from 1878 to 1881. Also while in private practice Wolverton married Clara Ellen Price in 1878, a marriage from which there would be no children.
Judicial career
In 1894 Wolverton was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace William Paine LordWilliam Paine Lord
William Paine Lord , was a Republican politician who served as the ninth Governor of Oregon from 1895 to 1899. The Delaware native previously served as the 27th associate justice on the Oregon Supreme Court, including three times as the Chief Justice of that court...
. He won re-election for a second six-year term in 1900. During his time on the court he served as chief justice twice from 1898 to 1900 and then again in 1905 until he resigned on December 4, 1905. Thomas G. Hailey
Thomas G. Hailey
Thomas G. Hailey was an American attorney and judge in Oregon. He was the 35th Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court in the United States. Prior to appointment to Oregon’s high court he served as a district attorney in Eastern Oregon and as mayor of Pendleton, Oregon.-Early life:Born in La...
was appointed by Oregon Governor George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain was an American politician, legislator, and public official in Oregon. A native of Mississippi and trained lawyer, he served as the 11th Governor of Oregon, a representative in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, a United States Senator.-Early life:Chamberlain was born near...
to finish Wolverton’s term. While on the court he received an honorary law degree from Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
in 1900.
Wolverton resigned from the Oregon Supreme Court in order to accept the position of federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed Wolverton to the position on November 20, 1905 during a recess in Congress to replace Charles B. Bellinger
Charles B. Bellinger
Charles Byron Bellinger was a federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon, United States. A native of Illinois, he also served as a state circuit court judge in Oregon, fought in the Modoc War in 1873, and was a newspaper editor...
who had died in office. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on January 10, 1906, and received his commission the same day. Wolverton would serve on the federal bench until his death on September 21, 1926 in Gearhart, Oregon
Gearhart, Oregon
Gearhart is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The population was 995 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,185 residents.- Geography :...
.
After each stint as chief justice on the Oregon court he was followed by Robert S. Bean
Robert S. Bean
Robert Sharp Bean was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 16th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving as chief justice three different times. Bean was on the state’ highest court from 1890 to 1909 when he was appointed as a judge for the United States...
. Bean would then join Wolverton on the federal court in 1909 when Congress added an additional judgeship to the Oregon district.