Earl C. Latourette
Encyclopedia
Earl Cornelius Latourette (February 10, 1889 – August 18, 1956) was the 32nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
and a Clackamas County
Circuit Court judge. He served as chief justice for two years and died while still in office as an associate justice in 1956.
, on February 10, 1889, to Charles David Latourette and his wife Sedonia Bird Shaw Latourette. Both parents were pioneer settlers to Oregon
. He had three brothers; Mortimer Dillon, Howard Fenton, and John Randolph. After receiving his primary education in both Oregon City and nearby Portland, Oregon
, Earl Latourette attended the University of Oregon
in Eugene
.
There he was on the football and track teams. He was the quarterback on the 1910 Duck football team and scored the winning touchdown to beat what is now Oregon State University
, and received All-Northwest Honors for two seasons. Following college, he enrolled at the University of Oregon School of Law
, which at that time was located in Portland. He graduated in 1912, and then passed the bar
in 1915. Latourette began practicing law in Oregon City after passing the bar, and remained in private practice until 1931.
, holding that position until 1950. During his time on the bench he lived in Oregon City, and in 1936 attended the funeral of fellow judge John Hugh McNary
. Then on January 19, 1950 Oregon Governor
Douglas McKay
appointed Latourette to replace E. M. Page
on the Oregon Supreme Court
. Page had had resigned from his position the day before, less than a year after he had been appointed to the court. Later that year Latourette won election to a full six-year term on the bench. Then in 1953 he was selected by his fellow justices to be Chief Justice, serving as Chief Justice until 1955. During this time as Chief Justice, future politician Norma Paulus
clerked for him. Latourette encouraged her to attended law school, which she did at Willamette University College of Law
. On August 18, 1956, Justice Earl Latourette died in office
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...
and a Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
Circuit Court judge. He served as chief justice for two years and died while still in office as an associate justice in 1956.
Early life
Latourette was born in Oregon City, OregonOregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
, on February 10, 1889, to Charles David Latourette and his wife Sedonia Bird Shaw Latourette. Both parents were pioneer settlers to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He had three brothers; Mortimer Dillon, Howard Fenton, and John Randolph. After receiving his primary education in both Oregon City and nearby 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...
, Earl Latourette attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
.
There he was on the football and track teams. He was the quarterback on the 1910 Duck football team and scored the winning touchdown to beat what is now Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, and received All-Northwest Honors for two seasons. Following college, he enrolled at the University of Oregon School of Law
University of Oregon School of Law
The University of Oregon School of Law is a public law school in the U.S. state of Oregon. Housed in the Knight Law Center, it is Oregon's only state funded law school. The school, founded in 1884, is located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, on the corner of 15th and Agate streets,...
, which at that time was located in Portland. He graduated in 1912, and then passed 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 1915. Latourette began practicing law in Oregon City after passing the bar, and remained in private practice until 1931.
Judicial career
In 1931, he was appointed as a circuit court judge for Oregon’s 5th judicial district that included Clackamas CountyClackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, holding that position until 1950. During his time on the bench he lived in Oregon City, and in 1936 attended the funeral of fellow judge John Hugh McNary
John Hugh McNary
John Hugh McNary was an American attorney and jurist in the state of Oregon. He served as the federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in Portland. A native of Oregon, he also served as a district attorney and as an assistant district attorney in Salem, Oregon...
. Then on January 19, 1950 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....
Douglas McKay
Douglas McKay
James Douglas McKay was an American businessman and politician from Oregon. A native of the state, he served in World War I before he became a successful businessman, mainly as a car dealership owner in the capital city of Salem. A Republican, he served as a city councilor and mayor of Salem...
appointed Latourette to replace E. M. Page
E. M. Page
Everill Max "E.M." Page was an American lawyer and judge in the state of Oregon. He was appointed as the 63rd Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court, serving for less than a year between 1949 and 1950....
on 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...
. Page had had resigned from his position the day before, less than a year after he had been appointed to the court. Later that year Latourette won election to a full six-year term on the bench. Then in 1953 he was selected by his fellow justices to be Chief Justice, serving as Chief Justice until 1955. During this time as Chief Justice, future politician Norma Paulus
Norma Paulus
Norma Paulus is an American attorney and former politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Nebraska, she was raised in Eastern Oregon before becoming a lawyer...
clerked for him. Latourette encouraged her to attended law school, which she did at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
. On August 18, 1956, Justice Earl Latourette died in office
Family
On April 30, 1912, Earl C. Latourette married Ruth Steiwer of Fossil, Oregon. Ruth was the daughter of William H. Steiwer, and a member of a prominent political family from Eastern Oregon. The couple’s children included daughters Anne Latourette Cook, Jeanne Latourette Linklater and Earl C. "Neil" Latourette, Jr. (d. 1982). Earl C. later married Eleanor Marshall in 1949, and they did not have any children.Other
- The oldest house in Gearhart, OregonGearhart, OregonGearhart is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The population was 995 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,185 residents.- Geography :...
belonged to the Latourette family beginning in 1926. Earl’s father Charles David Latourette later had his two sons Earl and brother John flip a coin to determine who would inherit the property with John winning the coin toss. - Justice Latourette donated the land in Oregon City where the Clackamas County Historical Society’s museum is located.