Glenn Parker (judge)

This article is about a former justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court. For the American pro football player, see Glenn Parker. For the Australian rules football player, see Glen Parker.

Glenn Parker (November 25, 1898 – April 18, 1989) was an American jurist who served as a justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court from December 5, 1955, to January 6, 1975, during which period he also served as the chief justice of the court for two non-consecutive four-year terms.^[1]

Glenn Parker
Justice of Wyoming Supreme Court
In office 1955–1975
Appointed by	Milward Simpson
Personal details
Born	Sherrow Glenn Parker (1898-11-25)November 25, 1898 Murray, Iowa
Died	April 18, 1989(1989-04-18) (aged 90) Cheyenne, Wyoming

Career

Parker was born in Murray, Iowa, to Charles Parker (1870–1943) and Mary Lavanchie Ball (1873–1958). He grew up on a family farm near Sheridan, Wyoming.^[2][3] Parker attended the University of Wyoming where, in 1922, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree,^[4] and in 1934, a law degree.^[5] Between the time he received his bachelor's degree and his return to law school, he taught school in Laramie and Casper.^[2][3] Parker served in the U.S. Army in World Wars I and II and rose to the rank of colonel.^[2][3]

Parker was admitted to the Wyoming State Bar in 1927 and practiced law in Laramie.^[2][3] At the time, Wyoming did not require attorneys to have a law degree in order to be admitted to the state bar.^[6] Parker completed his law degree in 1934 while actively practicing law.^[5] In addition to his private practice, he served as city attorney for two years and county attorney for eight years (1932-1940).^[2][3] From 1949 to 1955, he served as a Wyoming state district court judge in the Second Judicial District (Albany County in Laramie).^[2][3]

In 1955, Governor Milward Simpson appointed him to the Wyoming Supreme Court to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Chief Justice William Addison Riner (1878–1955). Parker had been endorsed for the position by the Albany, Carbon, and Sweetwater County Bar Associations.^[7][2][3] Parker was chief justice from January 1, 1963, to January 2, 1967, and from January 1, 1973, to January 2, 1975.^[8] He was the first graduate of the University of Wyoming College of Law to become a state district judge and also the first to serve on the Wyoming Supreme Court.^[2][3] After his retirement in 1975, Parker was associated with the Cheyenne law firm, Hirst and Applegate.^[3]

During his legal career, Parker served as Wyoming chairman of the American Bar Association's Committee on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and was a member of the American Judicature Society and the American Law Institute.^[2] He was also a special lecturer-instructor at the University of Wyoming College of Law.^[2]

Family

On June 8, 1924, Parker married, Ruth Beggs (née Lila Ruth Beggs; 1893–1971) in Denver (Weld County). Together, they had two children.^[3] After Ruth died, Parker, on October 7, 1972, married Sally Weitz (née Sarah Barbara Joyce; 1913–2016).^[3]

Death

Parker died April 18, 1989, in Cheyenne.^[3]