Charles T. Donworth

Charles Tenney Donworth (February 15, 1892 – June 10, 1976)[1][2] was a justice of the Washington Supreme Court from September 12, 1949 to December 31, 1967.

Early life, education, and career

Born in Seattle, Washington, to prominent attorney George Donworth, who later became a United States federal judge,[3] Donworth attended Andover Academy (later called Phillips Academy) in Massachusetts and received an undergraduate degree from Yale University in 1914, followed by a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1916.[1][4]

Donworth served in the United States Army during World War I,[1] and "practiced law in Seattle for 33 years".[5]

Judicial service

On August 29, 1949, Governor Arthur B. Langlie announced the appointment of Donworth to a seat on the state supreme court to succeed retiring justice William J. Steinert.[4] Following his appointment to the court in 1949, Donworth was re-elected to the seat in 1950, 1956 and 1962, and was also designated chief justice in 1956.[5] Donworth served on the court until 1968,[1] having retired effective December 31, 1967, pursuant to a Washington law "requiring the judges to retire at the end of the year in which they become 70".[5]

Personal life and death

In 1918, Donworth married Evelyn Carey,[3][6] daughter of a prominent Washington judge, with whom he had a son and a daughter. Evelyn died after an illness in 1934, at the age of 41.[6] Donworth then married Dorothy Lee Griffin of Fresno, California, in 1945.[7] Donworth died in a hospital in Olympia at the age of 84.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Retired Judge C.T. Donworth Dies Thursday", The Olympian (June 11, 1976), p. 2.
  2. ^ Office of the Administrator for the Courts, Judicial Administration in the Courts, State of Washington (1976).
  3. ^ a b "Engagement of Interest", The Tacoma News Tribune (January 23, 1918), 5.
  4. ^ a b "Langlie Chooses Seattle Lawyer", The Spokesman-Review (August 30, 1949), p. 1.
  5. ^ a b c "Justice Donworth Ends 18 Years On Supreme Court", The Olympian (November 22, 1967), p. 3.
  6. ^ a b "Death Beckons Mrs. Donworth", The Seattle Star (March 19, 1934), p. 1.
  7. ^ "Dorothy Griffin Will Be Bride Of Charles Donworth", The Fresno Bee (December 26, 1945), p. 5.
Political offices
Preceded by Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
1949–1967 		Succeeded by