Kenneth J. O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Kenneth J. O'Connell was an American
educator and jurist in the state of Oregon
. He served as the 36th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving in that position from 1970-1976. A native of Wisconsin
, he also served as a longtime professor at the University of Oregon
’s law school.
. Bayfield is in northern Wisconsin
on Lake Superior
. In Wisconsin he attended the University of Wisconsin Law School
where he earned two law degrees, one in 1933 and the other in 1934.
in 1935 as a professor. He was appointed to the position by Dean Wayne Morse
and taught a variety of subjects as the school had few professors in the early years. Later he served on commissions in the 1950s and 1960s to revise Oregon’s laws
and constitution
. He had earlier campaigned for law reforms in Oregon
and was selected to head the committee to revise Oregon’s statutes in 1949. In 1953, O'Connell received the Award of Merit from the Oregon State Bar
.
began in 1958, when Oregon Governor Robert D. Holmes
appointed him to the bench to replace James T. Brand
after Brand resigned. His appointment came July 1, 1958, and was then elected to a full six-year term later that year. Justice O'Connell won re-election in both 1964 and 1974. While on the court he was given the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Oregon in 1967. He then was selected by his fellow justices to serve as Chief Justice from 1970 to 1976. O'Connell did not seek re-election in 1976 and then retired from the bench at the end of his term in 1977.
. The University of Oregon
awarded him their Law Meritorious Service Award in 1985. He was also given the Distinguished Service Award from the American Civil Liberties Union
of Oregon. Kenneth O'Connell died in Salem, Oregon
, on February 18, 2000, at the age of 90. The University of Oregon holds and annual symposium named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and jurist 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 served as the 36th Chief 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...
, serving in that position from 1970-1976. A native of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, he also served as a longtime professor 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 :...
’s law school.
Early life
Kenneth O'Connell was born on December 8, 1909, in Bayfield, WisconsinBayfield, Wisconsin
Bayfield is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 611 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Henry Bayfield, a British Royal Topographic Engineer who explored the region in 1822-23....
. Bayfield is in northern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. In Wisconsin he attended the University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...
where he earned two law degrees, one in 1933 and the other in 1934.
Legal career
After graduating from law school O'Connell took a job at the University of Oregon School of LawUniversity 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,...
in 1935 as a professor. He was appointed to the position by Dean Wayne Morse
Wayne Morse
Wayne Lyman Morse was a politician and attorney from Oregon, United States, known for his proclivity for opposing his parties' leadership, and specifically for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds....
and taught a variety of subjects as the school had few professors in the early years. Later he served on commissions in the 1950s and 1960s to revise Oregon’s laws
Oregon Revised Statutes
The Oregon Revised Statutes is the codified body of statutory law governing the U.S. state of Oregon, as enacted by the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and occasionally by citizen initiative...
and constitution
Oregon Constitution
The Oregon Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon, originally enacted in 1857. As amended the current state constitution contains eighteen sections, beginning with a bill of rights. This contains most of the rights and privileges granted in the United States Bill of...
. He had earlier campaigned for law reforms in 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...
and was selected to head the committee to revise Oregon’s statutes in 1949. In 1953, O'Connell received the Award of Merit from the Oregon State Bar
Oregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
.
Judicial career
O'Connell’s career on the Oregon Supreme CourtOregon 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...
began in 1958, when Oregon Governor Robert D. Holmes
Robert D. Holmes
Robert Denison Holmes was an American politician and journalist from the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of the state of New York, he worked in newspapers and radio before entering politics. Though a Republican early in his career, he served as a Democrat in the Oregon State Senate and as the 28th...
appointed him to the bench to replace James T. Brand
James T. Brand
James T. Brand was the 31st Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving in that role from 1951 to 1953...
after Brand resigned. His appointment came July 1, 1958, and was then elected to a full six-year term later that year. Justice O'Connell won re-election in both 1964 and 1974. While on the court he was given the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Oregon in 1967. He then was selected by his fellow justices to serve as Chief Justice from 1970 to 1976. O'Connell did not seek re-election in 1976 and then retired from the bench at the end of his term in 1977.
Family and later life
In 1964 Kenneth J. O'Connell married Esther Foster O'Connell. The couple had two sons, Tom and Dan. O’Connell was known to doodle while listening to cases at the supreme court, and used a chalkboard to map out his legal decisions while in chambersChambers (law)
A judge's chambers, often just called his or her chambers, is the office of a judge.Chambers may also refer to the type of courtroom where motions related to matter of procedure are heard.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :...
. 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 :...
awarded him their Law Meritorious Service Award in 1985. He was also given the Distinguished Service Award from the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
of Oregon. Kenneth O'Connell died in 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...
, on February 18, 2000, at the age of 90. The University of Oregon holds and annual symposium named in his honor.