Charles Frederick Stafford Jr. (June 24, 1918 – July 3, 1984), was an American lawyer who was a justice of the Washington Supreme Court from 1970 to 1984.

Charles F. Stafford Jr.
Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
In office
January 13, 1970 (1970-01-13) – July 3, 1984 (1984-07-03)
Appointed byDaniel J. Evans
Preceded byMatthew W. Hill
Succeeded byJames A. Andersen[1]
Personal details
Born(1918-06-24)June 24, 1918
Burlington, Washington, U.S.
DiedJuly 3, 1984(1984-07-03) (aged 66)
Olympia, Washington, U.S.
SpouseKatherine "Kay" Grimm
Elizabeth Greenwell Banks (m. 1981)
Children2
Residence(s)Seattle, Washington
Alma materWhitman College (BA)
Yale Law School (LLB)
OccupationLawyer, judge

Biography edit

Charles Stafford, Jr. was born in Burlington, Washington to Charles Frederick Stafford, Sr. and Madge Marie Davis.[2] He attended high school in Bellingham, graduating in 1936. Stafford enrolled in Whitman College, and in 1940 was awarded a B.A. and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1940, he began his studies at Yale Law School, but left in August 1943 to serve as lieutenant in the U.S. Signal Corps during World War II. In 1946, Stafford returned to Yale and completed his LL.B. degree. Back in his home town, he campaigned for the election of the Skagit County Prosecutor and was appointed the deputy prosecutor. In 1952, at the age of 34, Stafford, became judge of the Skagit County Superior Court.[3] In 1968, Governor Daniel J. Evans appointed Stafford to the Division I of the Court of Appeals. A few months later, Evans elevated Stafford to the Washington State Supreme Court to replace Justice Matthew W. Hill, who retired.[4] Stafford served as chief justice from January 13, 1975, to January 10, 1977.[4]

Personal life edit

He married Katherine "Kay" Grimm, whom he had met at Yale, and they had two children. She died in 1980, and Charles Stafford remarried Elizabeth Greenwell Banks in 1981.[5] Though in ill health his final year, he continued to serve on the Court until he died on July 3, 1984.

References edit

  1. ^ "4 new justices make history on high court", Spokane Chronicle (January 14, 1985), p. 3.
  2. ^ "Record for Madge Davis Stafford". Anacortest Museum and Heritage Center. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Stafford Appointed" (PDF). The Concrete Herald. October 8, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Sheldon, Charles H. (1988). A Century of Judging: A Political History of the Washington Supreme Court. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. p. 354. ISBN 0295803290. Retrieved May 17, 2017. charles f. stafford.
  5. ^ "Obituary: Elizabeth Stafford". Seattle Times. Legacy.com. June 8, 2008.

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
1970–1984
Succeeded by