Judge Vernon R. Pearson

DIVISION II, POSITION 2

August 18, 1969–January 15, 1982

Appointed by Governor Evans; Resigned to accept appointment to Supreme Court

Born to a minister’s family in a town on the plains of North Dakota, Judge Vernon Pearson rose from humble circumstances during the financial depression of the 1930s. He became an excellent student, athlete, and debater in high school, and then a scholarship recipient at North Dakota’s Jamestown College.

He enlisted in the Navy following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. As a Navy officer, he served as ships navigator and spent most of his service in the Pacific Arena. He saw action during the landings on the island of Luzon and during the liberation of the Philippines. After the end of the war, he was responsible for landing troops on the mainland of occupied Japan. Judge Pearson’s interest in the law started when he acted as his ship’s prosecuting attorney. Following World War II, Judge Pearson returned to Jamestown College finishing his undergraduate degree, and then attended Michigan Law School.

After law school, Judge Pearson moved his family to Washington to teach a new course at the University of Washington Law School, entitled Legal Research and Writing. After teaching for one year, and a short stint in the Office of Price Stabilization in Seattle, he joined his brother Claude in private practice in Tacoma. Judge Pearson practiced in Tacoma for the next 17 years.

In 1969, Governor Dan Evans appointed Judge Pearson as one of the first empaneled Judges for the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division Two. Judge Pearson served as Chief Judge for Division Two in 1973-1975 and 1977-1979, and Presiding Chief Judge of the entire Court of Appeals in 1979. He served on the Court of Appeals until he was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1982. Justice Pearson served on the Supreme Court from 1982-1989. After retiring from the Supreme Court, Justice Pearson served as an arbiter and mediator.

Justice Pearson embraced a strong belief in equality and opportunity for all, which was reflected in his opinions and his activities on and off the bench. Throughout his career, Justice Pearson worked to ensure tribal courts were given the respect and acknowledgement they were due; he was instrumental in instituting a court rule that tribal court judgments “will be given full faith and credit” in Washington courts.

Justice Pearson died on February 4, 2013.