James A. Andersen
Andersen in 1969
Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court
In office
July 3, 1984 – 1995
Preceded byCharles F. Stafford Jr.
Succeeded byPhil Talmadge
Minority Leader of the Washington Senate
In office
January 11, 1971 – January 8, 1973
Preceded byR. Frank Atwood
Succeeded byHarry B. Lewis
Member of the Washington Senate
from the 48th district
In office
January 9, 1967 – January 8, 1973
Preceded byAlbert C. Thompson Jr.
Succeeded byJohn D. Jones
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 48th district
In office
January 12, 1959 – January 9, 1967
Preceded byVacant
Succeeded byRichard U. Chapin
Personal details
Born(1924-09-21)September 21, 1924
Auburn, Washington, U.S.
DiedMay 1, 2022(2022-05-01) (aged 97)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of Washington (BA, LLB)
OccupationAttorney, politician, judge

James A. Andersen (September 21, 1924 – May 1, 2022) was an American politician and judge in the state of Washington, serving as a justice of the Washington Supreme Court from 1984 to 1995.

The son of a coal miner, and one himself for a time, Anderson served in the United States Army as a combat infantryman in World War II, where he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge near Bastogne.[1][2][3] He then attended the University of Washington, receiving his Arts degree in 1949, and law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1951.[2]

Anderson served in the Washington House of Representatives from District 48 from 1959 to 1967. In 1968, Anderson was elected as a Republican to the Washington State Senate from the same district, running unopposed.[4] Andersen served in the state senate until 1972. He served in the state legislature for a total of 13 years.[5]

From 1975 to 1984, he was a judge on the Court of Appeals, Division One. In 1981, Anderson was named by the Washington State Bar Association as one of three choices for a seat on the state supreme court.[5] Following the death of Justice Charles F. Stafford in 1984, Andersen again was named for consideration, and was chosen by Governor John Spellman for appointment to the seat.[6] He then ran unopposed in the 1984 election to retain office.[3][7] From July 9, 1984 to January 9, 1995, he was a justice of the Washington Supreme Court, including a stint as chief justice in 1993. Anderson announced his resignation from the court in 1994, taking effect in 1995.

Andersen married Billiette, with whom he had two children.[2] He died on May 1, 2022, at the age of 97.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Judge James A. Andersen". www.courts.wa.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "PICTORIAL DIRECTORY - 1969 WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE" (PDF). Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "4 new justices make history on high court", Spokane Chronicle (January 14, 1985), p. 3.
  4. ↑ "Politicians file for District 48, 41 posts". Sammamish Valley News. Redmond Historical Society. August 7, 1968. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Lawyers' group lists choices for high court", Spokane Chronicle (December 22, 1981), p. 5.
  6. ↑ Bob Partlow, "Seattle judge named to state Supreme Court", The Olympian (July 9, 1984), p. 7.
  7. ↑ "Election Results: November 1984 General-State Supreme Court Justice Position #4". Secretary of State, State of Washington. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ "James A. Andersen". Legacy. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "In Memoriam: James Andersen". Washington Coalition for Open Government. May 7, 2022.
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