Hall S. Lusk
Encyclopedia
Hall Stoner Lusk was an American jurist and politician in the state of Oregon
. A native of the District of Columbia, he became a judge in Oregon, serving in both the Oregon circuit courts
and later on the Oregon Supreme Court
, including time as its Chief Justice. A Democrat, he was appointed to the United States Senate
for eight months in 1960 after the death of sitting Senator Richard L. Neuberger
.
, on September 21, 1883, to Charles Rufus and Florence Speake Lusk. He attended Georgetown Preparatory School
in DC from 1897 to 1900, and then graduated from Georgetown University
in 1904. In 1907, Lusk graduated from Georgetown Law School, earning a bachelor of laws degree. He was a law clerk to a chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
from 1906 to 1909, and was admitted to the District of Columbia bar
in 1907.
where he passed the bar in 1910 and entered private legal practice in Portland
. From 1918 to 1920, he served as an assistant United States Attorney
for Oregon, and in 1922 ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Oregon Legislature. While in private practice he represented the Society of Sisters, and wrote their brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court in Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
.
from 1930 to 1937. On July 22, 1937, Oregon Governor Charles H. Martin appointed him to the Oregon Supreme Court
to replace James U. Campbell
who had died in office. Lusk was elected to a full six-year term in 1938 and then re-elected to successive terms in 1944, 1950, and 1956. He was the court's Chief Justice from 1949 to 1951.
On March 15, 1960, he resigned from the court in order to be appointed to Congress. The next day Governor Mark Hatfield
appointed Lusk as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard L. Neuberger
and served from March 16, 1960, to November 8, 1960. He was not a candidate for election to a full term and returned to Oregon Supreme Court as a justice pro tempore
in 1961, serving until 1968.
and resided in Beaverton
. Hall Stoner Lusk died on May 15, 1983, in Beaverton, four months shy of his 100th birthday. Interment was at Mt. Calvary Chapel
, Portland. On September 30, 1914, he married Catherine Emmons, and they would have five children, all daughters.
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 the District of Columbia, he became a judge in Oregon, serving in both the Oregon circuit courts
Oregon circuit courts
Oregon's circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts of the U.S. state of Oregon. These courts hear civil and criminal court cases.The state has 27 circuit court districts, most of which correspond to the boundaries of the Oregon's 36 counties...
and later 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...
, including time as its Chief Justice. A Democrat, he was appointed to 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...
for eight months in 1960 after the death of sitting Senator Richard L. Neuberger
Richard L. Neuberger
Richard Lewis Neuberger was a U.S. journalist, author, and politician during the middle of the 20th century. A native of Oregon, he would write for The New York Times before and after a stint in the United States Army during World War II...
.
Early life
Hall Lusk was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, on September 21, 1883, to Charles Rufus and Florence Speake Lusk. He attended Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
in DC from 1897 to 1900, and then graduated from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1904. In 1907, Lusk graduated from Georgetown Law School, earning a bachelor of laws degree. He was a law clerk to a chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
from 1906 to 1909, and was admitted to the District of Columbia 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 1907.
Legal career
In 1909, Lusk moved to the state of OregonOregon
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 passed the bar in 1910 and entered private legal practice 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...
. From 1918 to 1920, he served as an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for Oregon, and in 1922 ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Oregon Legislature. While in private practice he represented the Society of Sisters, and wrote their brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court in Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Pierce v. Society of Sisters
Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, , was an early 20th century United States Supreme Court decision that significantly expanded coverage of the Due Process Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The case has been cited as a precedent in...
.
Political career
Lusk was circuit judge of Multnomah CountyMultnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
from 1930 to 1937. On July 22, 1937, Oregon Governor Charles H. Martin appointed him to 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...
to replace James U. Campbell
James U. Campbell
James Ulysses Campbell was an American judge and politician in Oregon. He was the 25th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1930 to 1937...
who had died in office. Lusk was elected to a full six-year term in 1938 and then re-elected to successive terms in 1944, 1950, and 1956. He was the court's Chief Justice from 1949 to 1951.
On March 15, 1960, he resigned from the court in order to be appointed to Congress. The next day Governor Mark Hatfield
Mark Hatfield
Mark Odom Hatfield was an American politician and educator from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served for 30 years as a United States Senator from Oregon, and also as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee...
appointed Lusk as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard L. Neuberger
Richard L. Neuberger
Richard Lewis Neuberger was a U.S. journalist, author, and politician during the middle of the 20th century. A native of Oregon, he would write for The New York Times before and after a stint in the United States Army during World War II...
and served from March 16, 1960, to November 8, 1960. He was not a candidate for election to a full term and returned to Oregon Supreme Court as a justice pro tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
in 1961, serving until 1968.
Later life and family
After leaving the court he engaged in the revision of Oregon Supreme Court procedures as justice emeritusEmeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
and resided in Beaverton
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
. Hall Stoner Lusk died on May 15, 1983, in Beaverton, four months shy of his 100th birthday. Interment was at Mt. Calvary Chapel
Mount Calvary Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
Mount Calvary Cemetery in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon, United States is a private cemetery owned and maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. It is the second-oldest Catholic cemetery in Multnomah County, and was the third cemetery built in the West...
, Portland. On September 30, 1914, he married Catherine Emmons, and they would have five children, all daughters.