Richard Cuddy Howe[1] (January 20, 1924 – June 19, 2021)[2] was an American politician and judge. At the time of his retirement in 2003, he was the only person in Utah history to serve as a member of the State House of Representatives, the State Senate, and the State Supreme Court.[2] He served on the Utah Supreme Court from 1980 to 2002,[3] and was the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1998 to April 2002.[4]

Richard C. Howe
Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court
In office
1998–2002
Appointed byGov. Scott M. Matheson
Preceded byD. Frank Wilkins
Succeeded byChristine M. Durham
Personal details
Born(1924-01-20)January 20, 1924
South Cottonwood, Utah
DiedJune 19, 2021(2021-06-19) (aged 97)
Murray, Utah

Born in South Cottonwood, Utah, Howe attended Woodstock Elementary School in Murray, and graduated from Granite High School.[2] He received a B.S. degree in speech from the University of Utah in 1943, and received his law degree from the University of Utah College of Law in 1948.[4]

Howe was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and Juanita Lyon were married in the Salt Lake Temple with the marriage performed by John A. Widstoe.[5] He served in multiple positions in The Church including as the first bishop of the Murray 11th ward, a member of the South Cottonwood Stake Presidency and a regional representative of the 12 apostles.

His brother, Allan Turner Howe, was a one-term U.S. Representative from Utah.[6]

Howe served eighteen years in the Utah State Legislature as a Democrat:[7] six terms in the Utah House of Representatives from 1951 to 1958, and from 1969 to 1972,[2] and two terms in the Utah Senate, from 1972 to 1978. During this time he served as a Judge in the Murray City Court from 1953 to 1955, and as Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1972.[4]

In December 1980, Utah Governor Scott M. Matheson appointed Howe to a seat on the Utah Supreme Court vacated by the resignation of Justice D. Frank Wilkins.[8] Howe served as Associate Chief Justice from 1988 to 1993, and became chief justice in March 1998.[2] He also served as the Judicial Council's representative on the Utah State Retirement Membership Council. Howe retired on December 31, 2002,[9] and was succeeded on the Court by Jill Parrish.[10]

He died on June 19, 2021, in Murray, Utah, at age 97.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ Who's Who in American Law 1992-1993. Marquis Who's Who. 1991. p. 454.
  2. ^ a b c d e Howard Stephenson, ""Former Chief Justice Howe, Judge Davis, Speaker Stephens Lauded by Taxpayers Association", Utah Taxpayers Association (May 5th, 2003).
  3. ^ Angie Welling, ""Howe hails gains by Utah judiciary", Deseret News (January 25, 2002).
  4. ^ a b c "Justice Howe's history", Deseret News (January 16, 2003).
  5. ^ Obituary of Howe
  6. ^ "Utah History Encyclopedia".
  7. ^ "Historical Listing of Utah State Legislators". le.utah.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  8. ^ Utah Judicial Council, Utah Judicial Council History (March 1998).
  9. ^ Elizabeth Neff, "Friends Honor Retired Justice Howe", Salt Lake Tribune (January 16, 2003).
  10. ^ Elizabeth Neff, "Senate OKs Two Supreme Court Justices", Salt Lake Tribune (February 27, 2003).
  11. ^ "Richard Howe Obituary (1924 - 2021) - Salt Lake City, UT - Deseret News". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-06-23.