Stanley C. Soderland
American judge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stanley C. Soderland (March 15, 1917 – November 28, 2001) was a judge of the King County Superior Court, who clerked for Justice William O. Douglas of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Stanley C. Soderland | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the King County Superior Court | |
| In office 1964–1979 | |
| Appointed by | Albert Rosellini |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1917 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | November 28, 2001 (aged 84) Seattle, Washington |
| Alma mater | University of Washington (B.A.) University of Washington School of Law (LL.B.) |
Early life and education
Stanley Carl Soderland was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Carl and Irene Soderland. Stanley grew up on a farm near Snohomish, Washington. In 1936, he graduated from the University of Washington, and was made a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1939, Soderland received a LL.B. degree from the University of Washington School of Law, graduating first in his class.[1] He served as the first full term clerk for Justice William O. Douglas of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1939 to 1940.[2][3]
Legal career
Soderland practiced personal injury law in Seattle from 1943 to 1964.[4]
In 1964, he was appointed a judge in King County Superior Court and served until his retirement in 1979.[1] In 1971, he oversaw the grand jury led by prosecutors Chris Bayley and Evan Schwab investigating police payoffs,[5][6] and helped lead an investigation into poor conditions at the King County Jail, which resulted in a report recommending reforms.[7] Drawing on his years as a trial lawyer, also in 1971 he published pattern jury instructions for use in civil cases.[8] In 1976, the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association voted him "Judge of the Year."[9][10]
Family
He was married twice, and had one daughter, Diana Crittenden, and four sons, Stephen, Douglas, David and Carl.[1] The family resided in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Seattle, and had a second home on Shaw Island.[11]