John O. Bailey
Encyclopedia
John Ora Bailey was an American
judge and politician in the state of Oregon
. He was the 27th Chief Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1933 to 1950. Bailey also served in the Oregon House of Representatives
and the Oregon State Senate
. A native of Iowa
and Harvard graduate, he began his public service as an assistant attorney general.
. There he received his education in the local schools before attending college at Harvard University
. After graduation in 1906 he then attended and graduated from Harvard Law School
. Next Bailey moved west to Spokane, Washington
, where he practiced law from 1907 until 1910 when he moved to Portland, Oregon
.
Also during this time he served in the state house from 1925 to 1929 as a Republican from Multnomah County
. Beginning with 1929 legislature he served in the state senate for two sessions. Bailey served on the Portland Public Schools's board from 1927 to 1930, including as its chair in 1930. While in the legislature he wrote the bill that became the state's law on textbooks.
In 1932, Bailey was elected to replace justice George M. Brown
on the Oregon Supreme Court when Brown’s term ended in 1933. John Bailey won additional six year terms in 1938 and 1944 before resiging on November 15, 1950. Bailey served as chief justice during World War II
from 1943 to 1945. He wrote the opinions on cases involving the 10-hour work day for factory workers, the constitutionality of the worker's compensation program, and several cases involving interstate commerce, among others.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge and politician 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 27th 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...
, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1933 to 1950. Bailey also served in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
and the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
. A native of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and Harvard graduate, he began his public service as an assistant attorney general.
Early life
John Baily was born on September 26, 1880 in Grinnell, IowaGrinnell, Iowa
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,218 at the 2010 census. Grinnell was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and is the home of Grinnell College.- History :...
. There he received his education in the local schools before attending college at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. After graduation in 1906 he then attended and graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. Next Bailey moved west to Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, where he practiced law from 1907 until 1910 when he 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...
.
Oregon
In 1911, Bailey married the former Frances H. White, and the two would have three kids. In Portland he continued practicing law through 1915 with the firm Platt and Platt. Beginning that year he was a deputy attorney general, serving until 1920. In that role he handled a variety of land fraud cases and helped to draft legislation that helped the state of Oregon better protect its state-owned land holdings. From 1920 to 1933 he returned to private practice at the firm Perkins and Bailey.Also during this time he served in the state house from 1925 to 1929 as a Republican from Multnomah County
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...
. Beginning with 1929 legislature he served in the state senate for two sessions. Bailey served on the Portland Public Schools's board from 1927 to 1930, including as its chair in 1930. While in the legislature he wrote the bill that became the state's law on textbooks.
In 1932, Bailey was elected to replace justice George M. Brown
George M. Brown
George M. Brown was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 50th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and the 5th attorney general of the state from 1915 to 1920...
on the Oregon Supreme Court when Brown’s term ended in 1933. John Bailey won additional six year terms in 1938 and 1944 before resiging on November 15, 1950. Bailey served as chief justice during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from 1943 to 1945. He wrote the opinions on cases involving the 10-hour work day for factory workers, the constitutionality of the worker's compensation program, and several cases involving interstate commerce, among others.