Donald B. Anderson Explained

Donald B. Anderson
Office:Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
Termstart:1955
Termend:December 16, 1956
Appointer:elected in 1954
Predecessor:Raymond Givens
Successor:Henry McQuade
Birth Name:Donald Brown Anderson
Birth Date:1904 10, mf=yes
Birth Place:Cardston, Alberta, Canada
Death Place:Caldwell, Idaho, U.S.
Death Cause:Self-inflicted gunshot wound
Resting Place:Canyon Hill Cemetery
Caldwell, Idaho
Spouse:Lois G. Nichols Anderson
(m.1955–1956, his death)
Children:1 son
Education:University of Idaho (LLB)

Donald Brown Anderson (October 28, 1904 – December 16, 1956)[1] [2] was a justice of the Idaho Supreme Court from 1955 to 1956. He received his LL.B. from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1927.[3]

Early life

Born in Canada at Cardston, Alberta, Anderson's family moved to the United States in his childhood and farmed near Weiser, Idaho. He graduated from Weiser High School, received his LL.B. degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1927,[3] and entered the practice of law in Canyon County at Caldwell.[2]

Public service

Anderson served as the prosecuting attorney of Canyon County for six years in the 1930s, and was a probate judge for four years, from 1937 to 1941. In April 1941, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), working in Chicago and Washington, D.C., ultimately becoming a special assistant to the Attorney General J. Howard McGrath. Anderson returned to Idaho in 1948 to resume the practice of law, and served as a judge of the Idaho Seventh Judicial District from 1950 to 1954, when he was elected to the state supreme court, where he remained until his death.[2]

Personal life and death

On September 2, 1955, Anderson married Lois Nichols of Boise, with whom he had a son, Ross Nichols Anderson.[2]

On December 16, 1956, Anderson was reported missing from his home, and a search ensued.[2] Early the following day, Anderson's body was found near his vehicle, approximately 100feet off of U.S. Highway 30 just west of Caldwell, with two bullet wounds to the head,[1] [4] [5] and a .38 caliber revolver by his side.[6] It was determined that the first shot had failed to penetrate the skull,[4] and the death was ruled a suicide.[6] Anderson was buried at Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: State supreme court justice takes own life . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho) . Associated Press . December 18, 1956 . 1.
  2. News: Justice Donald Anderson Found Dead in Automobile . . 11 . December 18, 1956 . November 19, 2023 . newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Seniors . Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook . 1927 . 60.
  4. News: State Supreme Court Judge Is Found Dead . . . . 1 . December 17, 1956 . November 19, 2023 . newspapers.com.
  5. News: High Idaho Judge Is Shot to Death . . . New York City . 17c . December 18, 1956 . November 19, 2023 . newspapers.com.
  6. News: Idaho Justice Takes Own Life . . . . 5 . December 19, 1956 . November 19, 2023 . newspapers.com.