Wallace P. Carson, Jr.

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Wallace P. Carson, Jr.
40th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
In office
1991 – 2005
Preceded by Edwin J. Peterson
Succeeded by Paul De Muniz
84th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
In office
1982 – 2006
Preceded by Arno H. Denecke
Succeeded by Virginia Linder
Born June 10, 1934 (1934-06-10) (age 74)
Flag of Oregon Salem, Oregon

Wallace P. Carson, Jr. (b. June 10, 1934) is an American attorney and politician from Oregon. He has spent time in both of Oregon’s legislative branches and served on the Oregon Supreme Court for 24 years. Carson served for 14 years as Chief Justice of the court, which is the longest of any previous Chief Justice on the Oregon bench.[1]

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[edit] Early life

Wallace P. Carson, Jr. was born June 10, 1934,[2] and raised in Salem, Oregon where his grandfather had started a law firm in 1889.[3] He graduated from Salem High School (now North Salem High School) in 1952.[4] Wallace graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California with a bachelor of arts (B.A.) in 1956.[3] At Stanford he was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), which lead to a commission in the United States Air Force. Carson, Jr. then enrolled in Willamette University’s law school, graduating with his juris doctorate (J.D.) in 1962.[5]

After graduation, he spent three years on active duty in the Air Force. Overall Carson, Jr. was in the armed forces for 34 years, many with the Air Force Reserve and Oregon Air National Guard. While serving in the military he rose to the rank of brigadier general while serving as a Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) officer, ground control intercept officer, and jet pilot. This service took him to places such as Korea and Taiwan.[1] Wallace P. Carson, Jr. was in private legal practice from 1962 to 1977.

[edit] Political career

While still serving in the military and working in private practice, Wallace Carson was invited by Oregon Republican politician Bob Packwood to run for a seat in the Oregon house in 1966.[1] There he served two terms, including one as majority leader.[1] Then he was elected in 1970 to the state senate, and re-elected in 1974.[1] He served as minority floor leader during his second term.[5]

[edit] Judicial service

Carson began his career in the judicial branch of government following his years in the legislature with an appointment to the Marion County Circuit Court by Governor Robert W. Straub in 1977.[1] Then in July 1982 Governor Vic Atiyeh appointed him to replace Justice Denecke on the Oregon Supreme Court.[3] That fall he was elected to a full six-year term on the bench of the state’s highest court. He was re-elected in 1988, 1994, and 2000.[6] He was chairperson of the Oregon Appellate Judges Association from 1989 to 1991. While serving at the Oregon Supreme Court, Carson was elected by fellow justices to serve as Chief Justice from 1991 till 2005.[1] While on the court he served as chairperson of the Commission on Appellate Court Performance Standards for the National Center for State Courts.[5] Carson did not seek re-election in 2006. Virginia Linder was elected to the position he vacated.

[edit] Later years

Since 1970 Carson has served on the Board of Trustees of Willamette University. He is currently a senior judge for the state, subject to temporary assignment as a judge on any court in the Oregon Judicial Department.[7] He and his wife Mary have three children.[8]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Profiles. Willamette University College of Law. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
  2. ^ Golden, Cory. WOU grads hear Carson. Statesman Journal, June 11, 2000.
  3. ^ a b c Leeson, Fred. Colleagues elect Carson as Supreme Court Chief Justice. The Oregonian, July 25, 1991.
  4. ^ 16 grads to enter North's hall of fame. Statesman Journal, April 8, 2006.
  5. ^ a b c The Honorable Wallace P. Carson, Jr.. Supreme Court. Oregon Judicial Department. Retrieved on 2006-11-25.
  6. ^ Oregon Blue Book: Supreme Court Justices of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  7. ^ Oregon Blue Book: Senior Judges. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  8. ^ Green Ashbel S. De Muniz will lead high court. The Oregonian, November 3, 2005.