William Cook Hanson
Encyclopedia
William Cook Hanson was a United States federal judge
on the United States District Court
for the Northern
and Southern
Districts of Iowa.
He was born in Jefferson, Iowa
to Willis and Pearl (Cook) Hanson. He received a B.A.
from the University of Iowa
in 1933 and a J.D.
from the University of Iowa College of Law
in 1935. Bill Hanson married M. Ruth Hastings at Jefferson in 1938. She was also a University of Iowa graduate and a member of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. Hanson was in private practice in Jefferson from 1935 to 1955. During this time, he was also County attorney of Greene County, Iowa
from 1939 to 1947. From 1955 to 1962, Hanson served as a judge on the Iowa District Court for the 16th Judicial District.
In 1962 Hanson became a federal judge in a new judgeship shared by the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. Although a Republican, Hanson was recommended by U.S. Deputy Attorney General (and later Supreme Court Justice) Byron White
and nominated by President John F. Kennedy
on June 23, 1962, to a new seat created by 75 Stat. 80. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 13, 1962, and received his commission on July 23, 1962. He served as chief judge of the Southern District from 1971 to 1977. He assumed senior status
on August 15, 1977. Hanson's service continued until his death on June 6, 1995.
In his memory, his wife, Ruth Hanson (1915-2011) and children formed "the Judge William C. Hanson Pediatric Orthopaedic Research Fund." His youngest son is a state court judge in Iowa, and won nation-wide attention with his controversial 2007 ruling in the case of Varnum v. Brien
which was subsequently upheld by the Iowa Supreme Court
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
for the Northern
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over fifty-two of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (in case citations, N.D. Iowa) has jurisdiction...
and Southern
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
Districts of Iowa.
He was born in Jefferson, Iowa
Jefferson, Iowa
Jefferson is a city in Greene County, Iowa, United States, along the North Raccoon River. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. It is the home of the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower, tall, located on the town square, and visible for miles. The tower is...
to Willis and Pearl (Cook) Hanson. He received a B.A.
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...
from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1933 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
in 1935. Bill Hanson married M. Ruth Hastings at Jefferson in 1938. She was also a University of Iowa graduate and a member of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. Hanson was in private practice in Jefferson from 1935 to 1955. During this time, he was also County attorney of Greene County, Iowa
Greene County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,336 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,546 housing units, of which 3,996 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1939 to 1947. From 1955 to 1962, Hanson served as a judge on the Iowa District Court for the 16th Judicial District.
In 1962 Hanson became a federal judge in a new judgeship shared by the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. Although a Republican, Hanson was recommended by U.S. Deputy Attorney General (and later Supreme Court Justice) Byron White
Byron White
Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White won fame both as a football halfback and as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Appointed to the court by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, he served until his retirement in 1993...
and nominated by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
on June 23, 1962, to a new seat created by 75 Stat. 80. He 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 July 13, 1962, and received his commission on July 23, 1962. He served as chief judge of the Southern District from 1971 to 1977. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on August 15, 1977. Hanson's service continued until his death on June 6, 1995.
In his memory, his wife, Ruth Hanson (1915-2011) and children formed "the Judge William C. Hanson Pediatric Orthopaedic Research Fund." His youngest son is a state court judge in Iowa, and won nation-wide attention with his controversial 2007 ruling in the case of Varnum v. Brien
Varnum v. Brien
Varnum v. Brien, 763 N.W.2d 862 , is an Iowa court case in which six same-sex couples filed suit against Timothy Brien, Polk County Recorder, for refusing to grant marriage licenses to them...
which was subsequently upheld by the Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
.