Connor Hansen
20th century American judge, justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
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Connor Theodore Hansen (November 1, 1913 – August 21, 1987) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Republican politician from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for 13 years, from 1967 until 1980. Earlier in his career, he served as county judge and district attorney of Eau Claire County, and worked as a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation during World War II.
The Honorable Connor T. Hansen | |
|---|---|
| |
| Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court | |
| In office March 13, 1967 – July 31, 1980 | |
| Appointed by | Warren P. Knowles |
| Preceded by | Myron L. Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Donald W. Steinmetz |
| County Judge of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Branch 1 | |
| In office June 3, 1958 – March 13, 1967 | |
| Appointed by | Vernon Wallace Thomson |
| Preceded by | Merrill R. Farr |
| Succeeded by | Thomas H. Barland |
| District Attorney of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin | |
| In office January 1, 1939 – June 18, 1943 | |
| Preceded by | Victor O. Tronsdal |
| Succeeded by | John D. Kaiser |
| Chairman of the Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Board of Supervisors | |
| In office April 1949 – April 1951 | |
| Preceded by | George H. Zetzman |
| Succeeded by | Henry Graff |
| Member of the Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Board of Supervisors | |
| In office April 15, 1947 – January 1952 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Connor Theodore Hansen November 1, 1913 |
| Died | August 21, 1987 (aged 73) |
| Resting place | Rock Lake Cemetery Lake Mills, Wisconsin |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Annette Ferry (died 2006) |
| Children | Annette, Peter, David, Jane |
| Education | |
Early life and education
He was born in Freeman, South Dakota, and was educated in the Eau Claire public schools, graduating from Eau Claire High School. He earned his bachelor's degree from the Eau Claire State Teachers College in 1934 (now the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire), and immediately went on to University of Wisconsin Law School, where he earned his J.D. in 1937.[1][2]
Legal and political career
After briefly practicing law in Eau Claire, in 1938, Hansen declared his candidacy for district attorney of Eau Claire County.[3] Despite being only 24 years old, Hansen won the Republican Party primary election, defeating former district attorney Curt W. Augustine, and went on to win the general election, defeating incumbent district attorney, Progressive Victor O. Tronsdal.[4] Hansen was subsequently re-elected in 1940 and 1942.
A few months into his third term, however, he resigned as district attorney to accept a position as special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[5] He completed his service with the FBI and returned to Eau Claire in late 1944, and formed a law partnership with his former assistant district attorney, John D. Kaiser.[6]
In 1945, Hansen returned to public office when he was appointed circuit court commissioner for Eau Claire County by 19th circuit judge Clarence E. Rinehard, and would continue in that role until his appointment as County Judge in 1958.[7] He was elected to office as a member of the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors in 1947, and would remain on the board until 1952, serving as chairman in 1949 and 1950.
He was a strong supporter of former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen in his campaign for the Republican nomination for president in 1948, and was elected as a Stassen delegate to the 1948 Republican National Convention. That same year, he attempted a run for United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 9th congressional district. He fell far short of incumbent Merlin Hull in the Republican primary, however.[8]
Judicial career
Due to his role as circuit court commissioner, between 1945 and 1957, Hansen frequently served as acting County Judge in place of Judge Merrill R. Farr, when he was recused from cases or otherwise absent.[7] In 1958, Hansen ran against Judge Farr for the Wisconsin Circuit Court seat in the newly created 24th circuit, but lost badly in the April general election.[9] With Judge Farr vacating the County Judge seat, however, Hansen was appointed as his replacement by Governor Vernon W. Thomson, taking office in June 1958.[10] His appointment was overwhelmingly confirmed in the April 1959 election for a full term as county judge.[11] He was unopposed seeking re-election in 1965.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Myron L. Gordon for a newly created seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Following his confirmation in March, Wisconsin Governor Warren P. Knowles chose Judge Hansen as Gordon's successor on the state's highest court.[12] His appointment received general praise from attorneys and lower court judges, particularly because it added a justice with probate court experience.[13] He was subsequently elected to a full ten-year term in 1970, without opposition.[14][15] Hansen was considered to be an ideological conservative.[16]
Personal life and family
Connor Hansen married Annette Phillips Ferry in on June 17, 1939. Annette was a great granddaughter of Jonathan Phillips, an early settler at Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and, at the time of the wedding, her family was known as one of the most prominent families in southern Wisconsin.[17] Together, they had four children—Annette, Peter, David, and Jane.
Justice Hansen died at Madison's University Hospital on August 21, 1987.[18]
Electoral history
Eau Claire District Attorney (1938, 1940, 1942)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Primary[19] | Sep. 20 | Connor T. Hansen | Republican | 2,083 | 70.23% | Curt W. Augustine | Rep. | 883 | 29.77% | 2,966 | 1,200 |
| General[20] | Nov. 8 | Connor T. Hansen | Republican | 6,980 | 55.72% | Victor O. Tronsdal (incumbent) | Prog. | 5,546 | 44.28% | 12,526 | 1,434 | |
| 1940 | General[21] | Nov. 5 | Connor T. Hansen (inc) | Republican | 11,613 | 66.02% | Ray E. Wachs | Prog. | 5,978 | 33.98% | 17,591 | 5,635 |
| 1942 | General[22] | Nov. 3 | Connor T. Hansen (inc) | Republican | 7,003 | 73.60% | F. E. Yates | Prog. | 2,512 | 26.40% | 9,515 | 4,491 |
U.S. House of Representatives (1948)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Primary, September 21, 1948 | |||||
| Republican | Merlin Hull (incumbent) | 25,243 | 60.99% | ||
| Republican | Connor T. Hansen | 14,071 | 34.00% | ||
| Republican | Lynn Mason | 2,073 | 5.01% | ||
| Plurality | 11,172 | 26.99% | |||
| Total votes | 41,387 | 100.0% | |||
Wisconsin Circuit Court (1958)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan Primary, March 4, 1958 | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Merrill R. Farr | 4,847 | 55.06% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Connor T. Hansen | 2,452 | 27.85% | ||
| Nonpartisan | William H. Frawley | 1,504 | 17.09% | ||
| Total votes | 8,803 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, April 1, 1958 | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Merrill R. Farr | 7,016 | 84.26% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Connor T. Hansen | 1,311 | 15.74% | ||
| Plurality | 5,705 | 68.51% | |||
| Total votes | 8,327 | 100.0% | |||
Eau Claire County Judge (1959)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, April 7, 1959 | |||||
| Nonpartisan | Connor T. Hansen (incumbent) | 7,822 | 85.56% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Homs A. Schwahn | 1,320 | 14.44% | ||
| Plurality | 6,502 | 71.12% | |||
| Total votes | 9,142 | 100.0% | |||