Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-05-17
LOCAL JUDGE NOW
ON SUPREME COURT
LISTER APPOINTS MITCHELL TO
SUCCEED ELLIS-WILSON ON
SUPERIOR COURT.

oNA IAvAN'aV $VSASA'
John r. Mitchell, superior Judge of
Thurston and Mason counties since
1903, succeeded last Monday to the
supreme court vacancy caused by the
resignation of Chief Justice O. G.
Ellis.
Judge Mitchell's appointment was
announced by Governor Lister last
Saturday afternoon together with the
appointment of Warren w. Tolman of
Spokane to succeed Supreme Judge j.
Stanley Webster, whose formal resig-
nation accompanied that of Judge
Ellis. Judge Tolman also took his
place on the bench Immediately.
John M. Wilson, chairman of the
industrial insurance commission, was
appointed by Governor Lister to sue
ceed Judge Mitchell on the Thurston
and Mason county superior bench. A
new commissioner will not be appoint
ed until after Governor Lister returns
from Philadelphia, for which city he
left Saturday night.
serving In1rU Term.
Judge Mitchell was serving his
third term as superior Judge. having
been reelected twice without oppo-
sition after his first election in 1908.
He is noted over the state for his
work as trial Judge in state cases.
all of which are brought In Thurston
county, while he has heard cases in
many other counties when another
judge was desired.
He was born in Halifax county, Vir-
ginia, in 1861, came to Olympia in
1888, and has lived here continuous
ly since. with the exception Of tenn
porary absence while continuing his
law studies at the University Of Vir-
ginia. Shortly after being admitted
to practice by the supreme court of
this state in 1894. Judge Mitchell vas
elected prosecuting attorney Of Thurs
ton county.
For years prior to his election to
the superior court Judge Mitchell
was law partner of Attorney Thos.
M. Vance. His appointment came
as big surprise to Olympians, as all
the talk here had been that Judge w.
o. Chapman of Pierce county or
Judge Walter French of Kitsap
would be named. The consequence
was that he was showered with con-
gratulations.
Planned to Make Race.
Upon Judge Ellis announcement
of his intention to resign to re-enter
private practice, Judge Mitchell an
nounced he would be candidate for
the supreme court at the election
next fall and was already engaged
in arranging his campaign, As ap-
pointments are. good only until a
general election, he will make the
race this fall. as one of the five
members of the court to be elected
next November.
He was formally sworn in as a
justice when the May term opened
last Monday, being presented to the
court by Attorney P. NJ. Troy. His
successor on the local superior court
Judge Wilson, also took the oath of
Office the same day.
Judge aud Mrs. Mitchell have one
son, Richard. who. graduating from
the local high school. attended the
University of Washington and for
the past two years has been a stu
dent in the medical school of North
western University at Chicago. He
enlisted in the army medical corps
when the United States became in
volved In the war. and. being as
signed to the reserve list. Is pursuing
his medical course until ordered to
report for service.
Judge Tolman served as state sena-
tor from Spokane in the sessions of
1901 and 1908, where he was partic-
ularly active in passing the railroad
commission law. He has been prom
inent as an attorney and In political
affairs for 25 years.
Former County Attorney.
Judge Wilson came to Olympia in
1906 from Pennsylvania. He served
two terms as prosecuting attorney for
Thurston county. became assistant
attorney general under Tanner and
attracted wide attention in that ca
pacity by his successful prosecutions
in the Gillies fraud trials. He was
appointed chairman Of the industrial
insurance commission In June, 1916.
and in accepting the new appointment
experiences a considerable reduction
in salary.
Pending appointment of his sue
cessor, H. L. Hughes has been named
acting chairman of the industrial in
surance commission.
New War Savings Society.