William Howard Billings
| William H. Billings | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri | |
|
In office July 1, 1987 – June 30, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Jackson Higgins |
| Succeeded by | Charles Blakey Blackmar |
| Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri | |
|
In office October 1, 1982[1] – May 23, 1991 | |
| Appointed by | Christopher S. "Kit" Bond |
| Succeeded by | William Duane Benton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 21, 1921 Kennett, Missouri |
| Died |
May 23, 1991 (aged 69) Jefferson City, Missouri |
| Spouse(s) | Wilda Billings |
| Alma mater | University of Missouri School of Law |
| Religion | Methodist Church |
William Howard Billings was a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. Prior to his appointment by then-Governor Kit Bond, he had been a member of the Missouri Court of Appeals in Springfield, and before that a circuit court judge; both times he was appointed by Democratic Governor Warren Hearnes.[2] Judge Billings was noted for his hard work ethic and his unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards expected of judges; however, he was found by a federal judge to have violated the court's canon of ethics by telephoning an expert without the consent of the parties' attorneys.[2] He was also a staunch opponent of allowing cameras into courtrooms,[3] and once threw out two journalists from the Missouri Supreme Court Building.[2] He died less than two months before he was supposed to retire, under Missouri's age limit for judges.
References
- ↑ Official Manual of Missouri, 1985-1986
- 1 2 3 Terry Ganey, "William H. Billings, Supreme Court judge appointed in 1982; Was to retire in August." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. May 24, 1991.
- ↑ Tim Poor, "Cameras seek day in court; Electronic coverage stirs interest and controversy." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Jul. 23, 1990.