William R. King (judge)
Encyclopedia
William R. King was an American
politician and judge in the state of Oregon
. He was the 37th Associate Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
. A native of Washington, he also served in Oregon
’s legislature and promoted the initiative and referendum legislation system.
on October 3, 1864, to David Rufus King and Elizabeth King (née
Estes). Ten years later in 1874 William and his parents moved to Malheur County, Oregon
, where he received his basic education. King then attended Oregon Agricultural College
from 1882 until 1885 before moving on to Indiana
's Central Normal College in Danville
to study law.
In Danville, he married L. Myrtle King on December 6, 1892. King studied there from 1889 to 1891 and earn an LL.B. degree from the school and passed the Indiana bar in July 1891. After graduation he returned to Oregon and was admitted to the bar in January 1893. King practiced law in the Eastern Oregon
communities of Ontario
, Vale
, and Baker.
as a Democrat representing Malheur County. He was then elected in 1894 to the state senate
as a Democrat Populist. While in the legislature he was a proponent of the initiative and referendum that Oregon would later adopt. In 1898, he ran for Governor of Oregon
and lost to T. T. Geer in the general election.
King was appointed as the Commissioner of the Oregon Supreme Court on February 23, 1907. On February 12, 1909, Oregon Governor
George Earle Chamberlain
appointed King to the state supreme court when the court expanded from three to five justices. He left the state’s high court at the end of the term on January 1, 1911.
. He married and had one daughter, Myrtle Marion King, and one son, Eldon R. King, an attorney. He also lived in Honolulu, Hawaii
and Los Angeles, California
. William R. King died in Washington, DC, in his hotel room on June 2, 1934. He had been a member of the Masons, the Woodmen of the World, the B.P.O.E., and the Knights of Pythias
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and 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 37th Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
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...
. A native of Washington, he also served 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...
’s legislature and promoted the initiative and referendum legislation system.
Early life
William King was born near Walla Walla, WashingtonWalla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
on October 3, 1864, to David Rufus King and Elizabeth King (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...
Estes). Ten years later in 1874 William and his parents moved to Malheur County, Oregon
Malheur County, Oregon
Malheur County is a county located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon. Most of the county observes the Mountain Time Zone, although the southern quarter of the county observes the Pacific Time Zone along with the...
, where he received his basic education. King then attended Oregon Agricultural College
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
from 1882 until 1885 before moving on to Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
's Central Normal College in Danville
Danville, Indiana
Danville is a town in Center Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,001at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Hendricks County. -History:...
to study law.
In Danville, he married L. Myrtle King on December 6, 1892. King studied there from 1889 to 1891 and earn an LL.B. degree from the school and passed the Indiana bar in July 1891. After graduation he returned to Oregon and was admitted to the bar in January 1893. King practiced law in the Eastern Oregon
Eastern 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...
communities of Ontario
Ontario, Oregon
Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 10,985 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 11,245 in 2006...
, Vale
Vale, Oregon
Vale is a city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States, about west of the Idaho border. It is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 20 and 26, on the Malheur River.Vale was selected as Malheur's county seat in 1955, 68 years after the county was founded...
, and Baker.
Political career
In 1892, King was elected to the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
as a Democrat representing Malheur County. He was then elected in 1894 to the 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,...
as a Democrat Populist. While in the legislature he was a proponent of the initiative and referendum that Oregon would later adopt. In 1898, he ran for Governor of Oregon
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....
and lost to T. T. Geer in the general election.
King was appointed as the Commissioner of the Oregon Supreme Court on February 23, 1907. On February 12, 1909, 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....
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...
appointed King to the state supreme court when the court expanded from three to five justices. He left the state’s high court at the end of the term on January 1, 1911.
Later life
After serving on the bench, King moved to Washington, DC, where he served as chief counsel while working for the United States Bureau of ReclamationUnited States Bureau of Reclamation
The United States Bureau of Reclamation , and formerly the United States Reclamation Service , is an agency under the U.S...
. He married and had one daughter, Myrtle Marion King, and one son, Eldon R. King, an attorney. He also lived in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. William R. King died in Washington, DC, in his hotel room on June 2, 1934. He had been a member of the Masons, the Woodmen of the World, the B.P.O.E., and the Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
.