George H. Burnett
Encyclopedia
George Henry Burnett was an American
attorney and judge in the state of Oregon
. He was the 21st Chief Justice
on the Oregon Supreme Court
serving twice as chief first in 1921 to 1923, and then in 1927 when he died in office. Overall he served on Oregon
’s highest court from 1911 until 1927.
on May 9, 1853, as the son of George W. and Sidney Younger. His parents had immigrated to Oregon over the Oregon Trail
in 1846. George junior attended public schools in Yamhill County before starting his college education at McMinnville College
where he attended until 1871. He then enrolled at Christian College
in Monmouth, Oregon
where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree of arts in June 1873. Burnett then moved to Salem, Oregon
and began learning the law in 1873 from Rufus Mallory and J. J. Shaw at their law practice. In December 1875 he was admitted to the Oregon bar.
, and a law professor at Willamette's law school
.
In 1910, George Burnett was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court to a new position when the court was expanded from three to five justices. He re-elected in 1916 and 1922. He served as Chief Justice of the state’s high court from 1921 to 1923, and again in 1927 until his death on September 10, 1927. His nephew Harry H. Belt
served with him on the court starting in 1925, whom George had taught the law to.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and judge in the state of 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 was the 21st Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
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...
serving twice as chief first in 1921 to 1923, and then in 1927 when he died in office. Overall he served on 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...
’s highest court from 1911 until 1927.
Early life
George Burnett was born in Yamhill County, OregonYamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
on May 9, 1853, as the son of George W. and Sidney Younger. His parents had immigrated to Oregon over the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
in 1846. George junior attended public schools in Yamhill County before starting his college education at McMinnville College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
where he attended until 1871. He then enrolled at Christian College
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
in Monmouth, Oregon
Monmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree of arts in June 1873. Burnett then moved to Salem, Oregon
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...
and began learning the law in 1873 from Rufus Mallory and J. J. Shaw at their law practice. In December 1875 he was admitted to the Oregon bar.
Legal career
Then in June 1876 Burnett was elected as district attorney for Oregon’s third judicial district, serving until 1878. From that year until 1886 he partnered with Shaw before opening his own practice where he worked from 1886 until 1892. In 1892, he was elected to the circuit court for the third district of Oregon where he stayed until 1910. During this time he was also a professor of medical jurisprudence at the Willamette University College of MedicineWillamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine is a former school of medicine that was part of Willamette University. Founded in 1867 as the first medical school in Oregon, the school relocated between Portland and the main university campus in Salem several times. Eventually the school was merged with...
, and a law professor at Willamette's law school
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...
.
In 1910, George Burnett was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court to a new position when the court was expanded from three to five justices. He re-elected in 1916 and 1922. He served as Chief Justice of the state’s high court from 1921 to 1923, and again in 1927 until his death on September 10, 1927. His nephew Harry H. Belt
Harry H. Belt
Harry Hackleman Belt was an American educator, lawyer, and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 28th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court starting in 1945. He served as chief justice for two years. Belt served on the bench for twenty-five years overall.-Early life:Belt’s father John D...
served with him on the court starting in 1925, whom George had taught the law to.