George Rossman
Encyclopedia
George Rossman was an American
lawyer and judge. He was the 29th Chief Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
in the United States
. The Illinois
native served on Oregon
’s highest court for the longest time of any judge in the court’s history, from 1927 to 1965. Previously he had worked as a judge for the city of Portland, Oregon
and for Multnomah County, Oregon
.
in 1887 where the younger George received his education and later worked in the mercantile trade. During this time he took correspondence courses from Whitworth College, graduating in 1907 with an A.B. degree in architecture. However, he never became an architect and moved back to Chicago where he earned an LL.B. from the University of Chicago
in 1910.
and began private practice, which he continued until 1917. During this time he married to Loretta Showers (d. 1959) in June 1914 in Portland, with whom he would have one son, George S. Rossman. Then in 1917 he left private practice and became a city judge until 1922, followed by time as a county circuit court judge from 1922 until 1927.
On September 13, 1927, George Rossman was appointed by Oregon Governor
I. L. Patterson
to replace justice George H. Burnett
on the Oregon Supreme Court after Burnett died in office. Rossman then won a full six-year term on the bench in 1928 followed by re-elections in 1934, 1940, 1946, 1952, and 1958. While serving on the court he helped to found the Capital Card Club in Salem in 1938.
He served as chief justice from 1947 to 1949 before retiring from the bench at the end of his term in 1965. George Rossman is the longest serving justice in the history of the Oregon Supreme Court
. During this time Rossman served on an advisory committee for the American Law Institute
to help draft A Model Code of Pre-Arraignment Procedure. In 1960, Advocacy and the King’s English was published by The American Society of Legal Writers, which he edited. In 1961, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award as a faculty member at the University of Oregon
.
, and after leaving the court was a lecturer. George Rossman died on March 11, 1967, in Salem at the age of 82 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and judge. He was the 29th 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...
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
native 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 for the longest time of any judge in the court’s history, from 1927 to 1965. Previously he had worked as a judge for the city of 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...
and for Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
.
Early life
Rossman was born March 8, 1885, in Chicago, Illinois, to George T. Rossman and Mary Rossman. The family then moved to Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
in 1887 where the younger George received his education and later worked in the mercantile trade. During this time he took correspondence courses from Whitworth College, graduating in 1907 with an A.B. degree in architecture. However, he never became an architect and moved back to Chicago where he earned an LL.B. from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1910.
Oregon
In 1910, Rossman moved to Portland, OregonPortland, 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...
and began private practice, which he continued until 1917. During this time he married to Loretta Showers (d. 1959) in June 1914 in Portland, with whom he would have one son, George S. Rossman. Then in 1917 he left private practice and became a city judge until 1922, followed by time as a county circuit court judge from 1922 until 1927.
On September 13, 1927, George Rossman was appointed by 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....
I. L. Patterson
I. L. Patterson
Isaac Lee "Ike" Patterson, was the 18th Governor of Oregon from 1927 to 1929. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly from 1918 to 1922, and was a farmer in the Willamette Valley.-Early life:...
to replace justice George H. Burnett
George H. Burnett
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...
on the Oregon Supreme Court after Burnett died in office. Rossman then won a full six-year term on the bench in 1928 followed by re-elections in 1934, 1940, 1946, 1952, and 1958. While serving on the court he helped to found the Capital Card Club in Salem in 1938.
He served as chief justice from 1947 to 1949 before retiring from the bench at the end of his term in 1965. George Rossman is the longest serving justice in the history 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...
. During this time Rossman served on an advisory committee for the American Law Institute
American Law Institute
The American Law Institute was established in 1923 to promote the clarification and simplification of American common law and its adaptation to changing social needs. The ALI drafts, approves, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, model codes, and other proposals for law...
to help draft A Model Code of Pre-Arraignment Procedure. In 1960, Advocacy and the King’s English was published by The American Society of Legal Writers, which he edited. In 1961, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award as a faculty member at 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 :...
.
Later years
Rossman was a trustee at Pacific UniversityPacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
, and after leaving the court was a lecturer. George Rossman died on March 11, 1967, in Salem at the age of 82 years old.