William R. King (judge)

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For other persons named William King, see William King (disambiguation).
William Rufus King
William R. King (judge)

King circa 1910
37th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
In office
1909 – 1911
Preceded by new position
Succeeded by Henry J. Bean
Born February 23, 1864
Walla Walla, Washington
Died June 2, 1934
Washington, DC

William R. King (February 23, 1864 – June 2, 1934) 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.

Contents

[edit] Early life

William King was born near Walla Walla, Washington on February 23, 1864 to David Rufus King and Elizabeth King.[1] Ten years later in 1874 William and his parents moved to Malheur County, Oregon where he received his basic education.[1] King then attended Oregon Agricultural College before moving on to Indiana’s Central Normal College in Danville to study law.[1] After graduation he returned to Oregon and practiced law in the Eastern Oregon communities of Ontario, Vale, and Baker.[1]

[edit] Political career

In 1892, King was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat representing Malheur County.[2] He was then elected in 1894 to the state senate as a Democrat Populist.[3] While in the legislature he was a proponent of the initiative and referendum that Oregon would later adopt.[1]

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.[4][5] He left the state’s high court at the end of the term on January 1, 1911.[5]

[edit] Later life

After serving on the bench King would move to Washington, DC where he served as chief counsel while working for the United States Bureau of Reclamation.[1] He married and had one daughter. He also lived in Honolulu, Hawaii and Los Angeles, California. William R. King died in Washington, DC on June 2, 1934.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
  2. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (17th) 1893 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 20, 2008.
  3. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (18th) 1895 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 20, 2008.
  4. ^ Oregon Blue Book: Governors of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 20, 2008.
  5. ^ a b Oregon Blue Book: Supreme Court Justices of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 20, 2008.
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