James A. Andersen

James A. Andersen (September 21, 1924 – May 1, 2022) was an American politician and judge in the state of Washington, serving as a justice of the Washington Supreme Court from 1984 to 1995.

James A. Andersen
Andersen in 1969
Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court
In office July 3, 1984 – 1995
Preceded by	Charles F. Stafford Jr.
Succeeded by	Phil Talmadge
Minority Leader of the Washington Senate
In office January 11, 1971 – January 8, 1973
Preceded by	R. Frank Atwood
Succeeded by	Harry B. Lewis
Member of the Washington Senate from the 48th district
In office January 9, 1967 – January 8, 1973
Preceded by	Albert C. Thompson Jr.
Succeeded by	John D. Jones
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 48th district
In office January 12, 1959 – January 9, 1967
Preceded by	Vacant
Succeeded by	Richard U. Chapin
Personal details
Born	(1924-09-21)September 21, 1924 Auburn, Washington, U.S.
Died	May 1, 2022(2022-05-01) (aged 97) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	University of Washington (BA, LLB)
Occupation	Attorney, politician, judge

The son of a coal miner, and one himself for a time, Anderson served in the United States Army as a combat infantryman in World War II, where he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge near Bastogne.[1][2][3] He then attended the University of Washington, receiving his Arts degree in 1949, and law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1951.[2]

Anderson served in the Washington House of Representatives from District 48 from 1959 to 1967. In 1968, Anderson was elected as a Republican to the Washington State Senate from the same district, running unopposed.[4] Andersen served in the state senate until 1972. He served in the state legislature for a total of 13 years.[5]

From 1975 to 1984, he was a judge on the Court of Appeals, Division One. In 1981, Anderson was named by the Washington State Bar Association as one of three choices for a seat on the state supreme court.[5] Following the death of Justice Charles F. Stafford in 1984, Andersen again was named for consideration, and was chosen by Governor John Spellman for appointment to the seat.[6] He then ran unopposed in the 1984 election to retain office.[3][7] From July 9, 1984 to January 9, 1995, he was a justice of the Washington Supreme Court, including a stint as chief justice in 1993. Anderson announced his resignation from the court in 1994, taking effect in 1995.

Andersen married Billiette, with whom he had two children.[2] He died on May 1, 2022, at the age of 97.[8][9]