Lusk was circuit judge of Multnomah County from 1930 to 1937.[1] Shortly after becoming a judge, he oversaw the trial of the Lessards' harpooning of Ethelbert. The orca had swum up the Columbia River and was the news of the day. The Lessard's were fined for killing a fish without a hook and line. Judge Lusk, as Time magazine wrote, "Like almost everybody else, he knew, and explained to the jury in directing an acquittal, that a whale, which breathes air and suckles its young, is no fish."[4][5] On July 22, 1937, Oregon Governor Charles H. Martin appointed him to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace James U. Campbell who had died in office.[6][7] Lusk was elected to a full six-year term in 1938 and then re-elected to successive terms in 1944, 1950, and 1956.[6] He was the court's Chief Justice from 1949 to 1951.[6]
On March 15, 1960, he resigned from the court in order to be appointed to Congress.[2] The next day Governor Mark Hatfield appointed Lusk as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Richard L. Neuberger and served from March 16, 1960, to November 8, 1960.[2][7] He was not a candidate for election to a full term and returned to Oregon Supreme Court as a justice pro tempore in 1961, serving until 1968.[2]
Life and family
He entered private practice in Portland, but had to work in a lumber yard to make ends meet. He met Catherine Emmons, daughter of a prominent Portland family, who were not thrilled that their daughter was being courted by Lusk. The Emmons sent Catherine around the world for a year to forget him. On September 30, 1914, he married Catherine Emmons, and they would have five children, all daughters.[1][8] Lusk was a lifelong practicing Roman Catholic.
Later life
After leaving the court he engaged in the revision of Oregon Supreme Court procedures as justice emeritus and resided in Beaverton.[2] Hall Stoner Lusk died on May 15, 1983, in Beaverton, four months shy of his 100th birthday.[2] Interment was at Mt. Calvary Chapel, Portland.[2]
References
^ abcdeCorning, Howard M. (1989) Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing. p. 154.
^ abcdefghi"Hall Stoner Lusk". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, 268 U.S. 510 (1925).