Charles A. Johns
Encyclopedia
Charles A. Johns was an American
lawyer, jurist and politician who served as the 47th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
. Johns also served as mayor of Baker City
in Eastern Oregon
and as a justice on the Supreme Court of the Philippines
while that archipelago was under U.S. jurisdiction.
. In 1858, the family immigrated to the Oregon Territory
and settled in the Willamette Valley
. Charles was then educated in the local schools of Marion
and Linn
counties. For college he attended Willamette University
in Salem
, where he graduated in 1878 with his bachelor of arts
. He was admitted to the bar
in 1881. The following year Johns married Mabel Ellis with whom he fathered three children. He would also have three children by his second wife Elizabeth Busch.
, in the Willamette Valley
from 1883 to 1885 and served as mayor of Baker City
in Eastern Oregon
from 1900 to 1908. He was also a lieutenant colonel on the staff of Oregon Governor
Theodore Thurston Geer
. In 1912, Charles Johns moved to Portland, Oregon
, where he practiced law.
On June 4, 1918, Johns was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace Wallace McCamant
by Governor James Withycombe
after McCamant resigned. Johns then won election to a full six-year term that same year, but resigned on October 7, 1921, following his appointment to the Supreme Court of the Philippines
by U.S. President Warren G. Harding
. In 1924, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
from Philippines. Johns served on the Philippine court until dying in office on January 11, 1932, at the age of 74.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, jurist and politician who served as the 47th Associate Justice 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...
. Johns also served as mayor of Baker City
Baker City, Oregon
Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
in 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...
and as a justice on the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
while that archipelago was under U.S. jurisdiction.
Early life
Charles Johns was born to James McClellan Johns and Elizabeth Ann Darby Johns in Jackson County, MissouriJackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
. In 1858, the family immigrated to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
and settled in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. Charles was then educated in the local schools of Marion
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
and Linn
Linn County, Oregon
Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American occupation of the Oregon Country. By the 2010 US census the population of Linn county was 116,672 showing a 13.2% growth since the 2000 census...
counties. For college he attended Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, where he graduated in 1878 with his bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1881. The following year Johns married Mabel Ellis with whom he fathered three children. He would also have three children by his second wife Elizabeth Busch.
Political career
After being accepted to practice law, Johns then became a judge in Polk County, OregonPolk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
, in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
from 1883 to 1885 and served as mayor of Baker City
Baker City, Oregon
Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
in 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...
from 1900 to 1908. He was also a lieutenant colonel on the staff of 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....
Theodore Thurston Geer
Theodore Thurston Geer
Theodore Thurston Geer was the tenth Governor of Oregon, serving from January 9, 1899 to January 14, 1903. The Republican politician was in office when the legislature adopted the "Oregon System", Oregon's system of initiative and referendum...
. In 1912, Charles Johns moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where he practiced law.
On June 4, 1918, Johns was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace Wallace McCamant
Wallace McCamant
Wallace McCamant was an American jurist in Oregon. A Pennsylvania native, he served as the 46th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court from 1917 to 1918. Later he served briefly on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit...
by Governor James Withycombe
James Withycombe
James Withycombe was a British-born American politician, a Republican, and the 15th Governor of Oregon. Prior to entering politics he was farmer and sheep rancher in the Tualatin Valley, leading to appointment as the state's veterinarian and then as head of what became the Oregon State University...
after McCamant resigned. Johns then won election to a full six-year term that same year, but resigned on October 7, 1921, following his appointment to the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
by U.S. President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
. In 1924, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
1924 Republican National Convention
The 1924 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Cleveland, Ohio at the Public Auditorium from June 10 to June 12. For this convention the method of allocating delegates changed in order to reduce the overrepresentation of the South...
from Philippines. Johns served on the Philippine court until dying in office on January 11, 1932, at the age of 74.