Percy R. Kelly
Encyclopedia
Percy R. Kelly was an American
attorney and jurist in the state of Oregon
. He was the 26th Chief Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1930 to 1949. Born in Iowa
, Kelly was an attorney in Oregon and member of both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
, as well as a trial court judge prior to joining the state supreme court.
, to C.C. Kelly and the former Mary Whipple. After receiving his primary education in the local school of Iowa
, California
, and Oregon he attended Albany College in Albany, Oregon
where he graduated in 1887. After graduation he then read law under future Oregon Supreme Court justice Charles E. Wolverton
and joined the bar
in 1892.
, for a special session. Beginning with following legislature he served in the state senate for two sessions. After this he served as Albany’s city attorney in 1909 and then became a state circuit court judge serving from 1911 until 1930.
On September 24, 1930, Kelly was appointed by Oregon Governor
A. W. Norblad
to replace justice Thomas A. McBride
on the Oregon Supreme Court after McBride died in office. Percy then won a full six-year term in 1930’s election, and re-election in 1936, 1942, and finally in 1948. While on the court he served as chief justice from 1941 to 1943, and then died in office on June 14, 1949.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and jurist 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 26th 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...
of 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...
, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1930 to 1949. Born in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, Kelly was an attorney in Oregon and member of both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
, as well as a trial court judge prior to joining the state supreme court.
Early life
Percy Kelly was born on July 13, 1870 in Arlington, IowaArlington, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 429 in the city, with a population density of . There were 212 housing units, of which 191 were occupied....
, to C.C. Kelly and the former Mary Whipple. After receiving his primary education in the local school of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, 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...
, and Oregon he attended Albany College 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...
where he graduated in 1887. After graduation he then read law under future Oregon Supreme Court justice Charles E. Wolverton
Charles E. Wolverton
Charles Edwin Wolverton was an American state and federal judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 18th Chief Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court...
and joined the 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 1892.
Legal career
After passing the bar, Kelly began practicing law in Albany. Beginning in 1894 he was a deputy district attorney, serving until 1900. Then in 1898 he was elected as a Republican to the state house representing Linn CountyLinn 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...
, for a special session. Beginning with following legislature he served in the state senate for two sessions. After this he served as Albany’s city attorney in 1909 and then became a state circuit court judge serving from 1911 until 1930.
On September 24, 1930, Kelly was appointed by Oregon Governor
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
A. W. Norblad
A. W. Norblad
Albin Walter Norblad, Sr., was a prominent citizen of Astoria, Oregon, United States, and the 19th Governor of Oregon from 1929 to 1931.He was the father of Representative A...
to replace justice Thomas A. McBride
Thomas A. McBride
Thomas Allen McBride was an American attorney and judge in Oregon. He was the 20th Chief Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court serving three times as chief between 1913 and 1927...
on the Oregon Supreme Court after McBride died in office. Percy then won a full six-year term in 1930’s election, and re-election in 1936, 1942, and finally in 1948. While on the court he served as chief justice from 1941 to 1943, and then died in office on June 14, 1949.