William C. Goodloe
Encyclopedia
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William Cassius Goodloe III (1919-1997) was Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
from 1985 to 1988.
William Goodloe was born in Lexington
, Kentucky
on September 19, 1919. Justice Goodloe graduated from the University of Washington
law school
in 1948 and was a trial lawyer for 24 years.
He served on the King County Superior Court
for twelve years and served for three and a half years on the Washington State Supreme Court from January 14, 1985 to July 17, 1988 after winning a contested election.
While on the Supreme Court
, Justice Goodloe authored 56 majority opinions
with 12 concurrences
and 34 dissents
.
He was an advocate of jury nullification
and suggested that the following instruction be given by judges to all juries in criminal cases:
He was a loving family man and raised a big family in the Seattle area with his wife Phyllis Goodloe. He loved to paint and memorize great quotes.
He spent a majority of his time after his retirement studying and giving speeches on the US Constitution and the Great Americans of History.
Goodloe died on May 8, 1997.
William Cassius Goodloe III (1919-1997) was Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
Washington Supreme Court
The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the judiciary of the U.S. state of Washington. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Justices. of the Court are elected to six-year terms...
from 1985 to 1988.
William Goodloe was born in Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
on September 19, 1919. Justice Goodloe graduated from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in 1948 and was a trial lawyer for 24 years.
He served on the King County Superior Court
King County Superior Court
King County Superior Court, the largest trial court in Washington state, is based at the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, in downtown Seattle, Washington. It also operates a juvenile facility and a Regional Justice Center in Kent, southeast of Seattle....
for twelve years and served for three and a half years on the Washington State Supreme Court from January 14, 1985 to July 17, 1988 after winning a contested election.
While on the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, Justice Goodloe authored 56 majority opinions
Majority opinion
In law, a majority opinion is a judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision....
with 12 concurrences
Concurrence
In Western jurisprudence, concurrence is the apparent need to prove the simultaneous occurrence of both actus reus and mens rea , to constitute a crime; except in crimes of strict liability...
and 34 dissents
Dissent
Dissent is a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or an entity...
.
He was an advocate of jury nullification
Jury nullification
Jury nullification occurs in a trial when a jury reaches a verdict contrary to the judge's instructions as to the law.A jury verdict contrary to the letter of the law pertains only to the particular case before it; however, if a pattern of acquittals develops in response to repeated attempts to...
and suggested that the following instruction be given by judges to all juries in criminal cases:
- "You are instructed that this being a criminal case you are the exclusive judges of the evidence, the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony, and you have a right also to determine the law in the case. The court does not intend to express any opinion concerning the weight of the evidence, but it is the duty of the court to advise you as to the law, and it is your duty to consider the instructions of the court; yet in your decision upon the merits of the case you have a right to determine for yourselves the law as well as the facts by which your verdict shall be governed."
He was a loving family man and raised a big family in the Seattle area with his wife Phyllis Goodloe. He loved to paint and memorize great quotes.
He spent a majority of his time after his retirement studying and giving speeches on the US Constitution and the Great Americans of History.
Goodloe died on May 8, 1997.