Claude C. McColloch
Encyclopedia
Claude Charles McColloch (January 14, 1888 – September 30, 1959) was an American
attorney and judge in Oregon
. A native of California
, he served as a federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon
, including four years as the courts chief judge. A Democrat, he also served in the Oregon State Senate
.
, to Mary Elizabeth McColloch (née
Wooddy) and her husband Charles Henry McColloch on January 14, 1888. When Claude was two years old, the family relocated to Oregon
where he received his education through high school in Portland
. McColloch entered Stanford University
in Palo Alto, California
, in 1904 and attended until 1907 when he left for the University of Chicago Law School
. He graduated from law school in 1909 with a Bachelor of Philosophy
degree and was admitted to the Oregon bar
in May of that year.
in Baker City
. McColloch remained in Baker until 1913, and served in the Oregon State Senate
after winning election to a four-year term in 1910. A Democrat, he represented Baker County
. In 1913, he returned to Portland where he remained in private practice until 1926.
While in Portland he served on the Port of Portland
commission from 1922 to 1924. In 1926, McColloch moved to Southern Oregon
where he set up private practice in Klamath Falls
. He remained in that city until 1937, and served as chairman of Oregon’s Democratic Party
in 1936.
On August 5, 1937, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt
nominated McColloch for a position on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
to replace the deceased John Hugh McNary
. McColloch was confirmed by the United States Senate
on August 17, 1937, and joined the Portland based court on August 20, 1937, after receiving his commission. While on the court, he served as chief judge from 1954 to 1958 when he became a senior judge on December 31, 1958. Claude McColloch died on September 30, 1959.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and judge in 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...
. A native of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he served as a federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, including four years as the courts chief judge. A Democrat, he also served in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
.
Early life
Claude McColloch was born in Red Bluff, CaliforniaRed Bluff, California
Red Bluff is a city in and the county seat of Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 14,076 at the 2010 census, up from 13,147 at the 2000 census....
, to Mary Elizabeth McColloch (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Wooddy) and her husband Charles Henry McColloch on January 14, 1888. When Claude was two years old, the family relocated to 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...
where he received his education through high school in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. McColloch entered 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 Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, in 1904 and attended until 1907 when he left for the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
. He graduated from law school in 1909 with a Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree. The degree usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects...
degree and was admitted to the Oregon bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in May of that year.
Legal career
Returning to Oregon, he began private legal practice in Eastern OregonEastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
in Baker City
Baker City, Oregon
Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. McColloch remained in Baker until 1913, and served in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
after winning election to a four-year term in 1910. A Democrat, he represented Baker County
Baker County, Oregon
Baker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. It is named for Edward Dickinson Baker, a senator from Oregon who was killed at Ball's Bluff, a battle of the Civil War in Virginia in 1861. It was split from the eastern part...
. In 1913, he returned to Portland where he remained in private practice until 1926.
While in Portland he served on the Port of Portland
Port of Portland (Oregon)
The Port of Portland is the port district responsible for overseeing Portland International Airport, general aviation, and marine activities in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area in the United States....
commission from 1922 to 1924. In 1926, McColloch moved to Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
where he set up private practice in Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
. He remained in that city until 1937, and served as chairman of Oregon’s Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
in 1936.
On August 5, 1937, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
nominated McColloch for a position on 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...
to replace the deceased John Hugh McNary
John Hugh McNary
John Hugh McNary was an American attorney and jurist in the state of Oregon. He served as the federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in Portland. A native of Oregon, he also served as a district attorney and as an assistant district attorney in Salem, Oregon...
. McColloch was confirmed by the United States 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 August 17, 1937, and joined the Portland based court on August 20, 1937, after receiving his commission. While on the court, he served as chief judge from 1954 to 1958 when he became a senior judge on December 31, 1958. Claude McColloch died on September 30, 1959.