Bert E. Haney
Encyclopedia
Bert Emery Haney, alternately Bert Emory Haney (April 10, 1879 – September 18, 1943), was an American
attorney
and jurist
from Oregon
. A native of Oregon, he served as United States Attorney
for the Oregon District
before becoming a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
. A Democrat
, he also served on the United States Shipping Board
and was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate
in 1926.
, Yamhill County, Oregon
. The son of John Haney and Mary Haney (née Harris), he attended the local public schools in Lafayette. After completing his secondary education, Haney attended Willamette University
in Salem
. He then graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law
in 1903 with a bachelor's degree in laws
. At the time the school was still located in Portland
. Haney married Jessie A. Holmes on November 21, 1906.
. He began working for William D. Fenton in June, remaining with him for one year. On July 1, 1904, Haney was selected to serve as a deputy district attorney for Oregon's fourth judicial district, keeping the position until July 1, 1908. A Democrat, he then started a legal partnership with George W. Joseph
on that day and remained in private practice until 1918.
During this time, he served as the chairman of the Oregon Democratic State Committee from 1910 to 1915. Previously he had been secretary of the party's county and city committees from 1904 to 1907. In 1918, Haney left private practice to become the United States Attorney
for the District of Oregon. Two years later he returned to private practice in Portland, and from 1922 to 1923 he also was the chairperson of the state's parole board
. In 1923, he left his legal practice and became a member of the United States Shipping Board
, serving until 1926.
In 1926, Haney ran as the Democratic Party nominee for the United States Senate
against Frederick Steiwer
and Robert N. Stanfield
. After losing to Steiwer, Haney returned to Portland and again resumed private legal practice, practicing until 1935. On August 21, 1935, Haney was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
in San Francisco, California
. Two days later, the U.S. Senate confirmed Haney to the newly created seat on the court, and he received his commission on August 24. He remained on the court until his death on September 18, 1943, at the age of 64.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Oregon, he served as United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Oregon District
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
before becoming a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he also served on the United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
and was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1926.
Early life
Bert Haney was born on April 10, 1879 in LafayetteLafayette, Oregon
Lafayette is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States on the Yamhill River and Oregon Route 99W. It was founded in 1846 and incorporated in 1878...
, Yamhill County, Oregon
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
. The son of John Haney and Mary Haney (née Harris), he attended the local public schools in Lafayette. After completing his secondary education, Haney attended Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. He then graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law
University of Oregon School of Law
The University of Oregon School of Law is a public law school in the U.S. state of Oregon. Housed in the Knight Law Center, it is Oregon's only state funded law school. The school, founded in 1884, is located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, on the corner of 15th and Agate streets,...
in 1903 with a bachelor's degree in laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
. At the time the school was still located in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. Haney married Jessie A. Holmes on November 21, 1906.
Legal career
On May 28, 1903, Haney passed the bar and was admitted to practice law by the Oregon Supreme CourtOregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
. He began working for William D. Fenton in June, remaining with him for one year. On July 1, 1904, Haney was selected to serve as a deputy district attorney for Oregon's fourth judicial district, keeping the position until July 1, 1908. A Democrat, he then started a legal partnership with George W. Joseph
George W. Joseph
George W. P. Joseph was an attorney and Republican politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of California, his family relocated to Oregon when he was young. There he would practice law and serve in the Oregon State Senate....
on that day and remained in private practice until 1918.
During this time, he served as the chairman of the Oregon Democratic State Committee from 1910 to 1915. Previously he had been secretary of the party's county and city committees from 1904 to 1907. In 1918, Haney left private practice to become the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of Oregon. Two years later he returned to private practice in Portland, and from 1922 to 1923 he also was the chairperson of the state's parole board
Parole Board
A parole board is a panel of people who decide whether an offender should be released from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as prescribed by the sentencing judge. Parole boards are used in many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the United...
. In 1923, he left his legal practice and became a member of the United States Shipping Board
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
, serving until 1926.
In 1926, Haney ran as the Democratic Party nominee for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer was an American politician and lawyer in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he was county district attorney and member of the Oregon State Senate from Eastern Oregon and a veteran of World War I. A Republican, he was elected to the United States Senate and served there...
and Robert N. Stanfield
Robert N. Stanfield
Robert Nelson Stanfield was an American politician and rancher from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he was a rancher before entering politics and serving in the Oregon House of Representatives, including one session as Speaker...
. After losing to Steiwer, Haney returned to Portland and again resumed private legal practice, practicing until 1935. On August 21, 1935, Haney was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Two days later, the U.S. Senate confirmed Haney to the newly created seat on the court, and he received his commission on August 24. He remained on the court until his death on September 18, 1943, at the age of 64.
External links
- At War Over the Espionage Act in Portland, Oregon Historical Quarterly