George H. Burnett

Infobox Judge
name = George H. Burnett


imagesize = 140px
caption = Burnett in 1903
office = 21st Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
termstart = 1921-1923
termend = 1927-1927
nominator =
appointer =
predecessor = Thomas A. McBride
successor = Thomas A. McBride,
John L. Rand
office2 = 41st Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
termstart2 = 1911
termend2 = 1927
nominator2 =
appointer2 =
predecessor2 = Woodson T. Slater
successor2 = George Rossman
birthdate = May 9 1853
birthplace = Yamhill County, Oregon flagicon|Oregon
deathdate = September 10 1927
deathplace = Salem, Oregon
spouse = Marian Belt (d. 1924),
Frances Wise

George Henry Burnett (May 9 1853- September 10 1927) was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 21st Chief Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court serving twice as chief first in 1921 to 1923, and then in 1927 when he died in office. Overall he served on Oregon’s highest court from 1911 until 1927.

Early life

George Burnett was born in Yamhill County, Oregon on May 9 1853, as the son of George W. and Sidney Younger.Corning, Howard M. "Dictionary of Oregon History". Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.] His parents had immigrated to Oregon over the Oregon Trail in 1846. [http://www.ojd.state.or.us/yam/Documents/burnett_george_h_memoriam.pdf In Memoriam.] Oregon Supreme Court Journal, October 18 1927. Retrieved on January 18 2008.] George junior attended public schools in Yamhill County before starting his college education at McMinnville College where he attended until 1871. He then enrolled at Christian College in Monmouth, Oregon where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree of arts in June 1873. [http://www.ojd.state.or.us/yam/Pages/judicial_history.htm Yamhill County District Court Judges] ] Burnett then moved to Salem, Oregon and began learning the law in 1873 from Rufus Mallory and J. J. Shaw at their law practice. In December 1875 he was admitted to the Oregon bar.

Legal career

Then in June 1876 Burnett was elected as district attorney for Oregon’s third judicial district, serving until 1878. From that year until 1886 he partnered with Shaw before opening his own practice where he worked from 1886 until 1892. In 1892, he was elected to the circuit court for the third district of Oregon where he stayed until 1910. During this time he was also a professor of medical jurisprudence at the Willamette University College of Medicine. ["Wallulah". Willamette University, 1905, Vol. 2] ["Wallulah". Willamette University, 1903, Vol. 1]

In 1910, George Burnett was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court to a new position when the court was expanded from three to five justices. [http://www.bluebook.state.or.us/state/elections/elections27.htm Oregon Blue Book: Supreme Court Justices of Oregon.] Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 18 2008.] He re-elected in 1916 and 1922. He served as Chief Justice of the state’s high court from 1921 to 1923, and again in 1927 until his death on September 10, 1927. His nephew Harry H. Belt served with him on the court starting in 1925, whom George had taught the law too.

Family

George married Marian Belt in 1879. She died in 1924, and he re-married in 1925 to Frances Wise.

References