Walter Henry Cleary (November 17, 1887 – April 12, 1974) was a Vermont attorney and judge. His career was most notable for his service as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1948 to 1958, and chief justice from 1958 to 1959.

Walter H. Cleary
1958 black and white head and shoulders newspaper photo of Walter H. Cleary in suit and tie, turned slightly right, looking straight
The Newport Daily Express, February 28, 1958
Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
In office
1958–1959
Preceded byOlin M. Jeffords
Succeeded byBenjamin N. Hulburd
Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
In office
1948–1958
Preceded byAllen R. Sturtevant
Succeeded byPercival L. Shangraw
Chief Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
In office
1938–1948
Preceded byOlin M. Jeffords
Succeeded byCharles Bayley Adams
Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
In office
1934–1938
Preceded byFred G. Bicknell
Succeeded byOrrin B. Hughes
Personal details
Born(1887-11-17)November 17, 1887
Lyndonville, Vermont, U.S.
DiedApril 12, 1974(1974-04-12) (aged 86)
Newport, Vermont, U.S.
Resting placeSt. Elizabeth's Cemetery, Lyndonville, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseArlene M. Decoteau (m. 1922)
Children2
EducationMiddlebury College
Boston University School of Law
ProfessionAttorney

Early life

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Cleary was born in Lyndonville, Vermont on November 17, 1887, the son of John and Mary Louise (McArthur) Cleary.[1] He was educated in Lyndonville, and graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1906.[1] Cleary was a 1911 graduate of Middlebury College (A.B.) (Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Upsilon, Phi Delta Phi), and taught at the Mitchell School in Billerica, Massachusetts from 1911 to 1913.[1][2] He was a 1915 graduate of Boston University School of Law (LL.B.).[1]

Early career

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Cleary practiced law in Newport.[1] A Republican, from 1916 to 1934 he was a U.S. Commissioner, empowered to conduct initial hearings on cases including illegal entry into the United States and Prohibition Amendment violations.[1] He was Newport's city attorney from 1922 to 1934, and was president of the Vermont Bar Association from 1932 to 1933.[1] Cleary was president of the National Bank of Newport from 1933 to 1934.[1]

In addition to his career as an attorney, Cleary was a trustee of Middlebury College, Saint Michael's College, Lyndon Institute and the Vermont State Library.[3] He was a longtime member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport. Cleary was also active in the Knights of Columbus, and held several leadership roles at the local and state level.[1]

Career as judge

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In 1934, Cleary was appointed a judge of the Vermont Superior Court.[1] He advanced through seniority to become the court's chief judge in 1938, and served in this position until 1948.[1][4]

In 1948, Cleary was appointed an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, replacing Allen R. Sturtevant, who had retired.[4] He served until 1958, when he was appointed to replace Olin M. Jeffords as chief justice.[4] He held this post until retiring in March 1959, which was required because he had reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.[4][5] He was succeeded as chief justice by Benjamin N. Hulburd.[5]

Awards

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Cleary received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the College of the Holy Cross in 1943.[1] In 1950, he was awarded an honorary J.S.D. from Suffolk University Law School.[6] He was awarded an LL.D. from Saint Michael's College in 1958.[7]

Death and burial

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Cleary died at a nursing home in Newport on April 12, 1974.[3] He was buried at St. Elizabeth's Cemetery in Lyndonville.[3]

Family

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In 1917, Cleary married Arlene M. Decoteau.[1][3] They were the parents of a son, John McArthur Cleary (1918-1984), an editorial writer for the Hartford Times, and a daughter, Louise Ellen (1920-2006), the wife of Charles Horvath.[1][3]

References

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Sources

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Books

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  • Armstrong, Howard E. (1951). Vermont Legislative Directory. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State.
  • Romig, Walter (1947). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. 7. Grosse Point, MI: Walter Romig.
  • Wiley, Edgar J. (1917). Catalogue of Officers and Students of Middlebury College. Middlebury, VT: Middlebury College.

Newspapers

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Political offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
1948–1958
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
1958–1959
Succeeded by