Claude F. Morris (January 10, 1869 – September 28, 1957) was a justice of the

Montana Supreme Court The Montana Supreme Court is the supreme court, highest court of the state court system in the U.S. state of Montana. It is established and its powers defined by Article VII of the 1972 Montana Constitution. It is primarily an appellate court wh ...

from 1935 to 1946. Born in Ralls County, Missouri, Morris received his

Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

degree from Columbian University (later

George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

) in 1902. He moved to Montana and was admitted to the practice of law in 1903. From 1903 to 1906, he was associated with the Union Bank and Trust Company as secretary and trust officer. He was prominent in Montana banking circles for many year, particularly at Havre, Montana, where he was the president of the Security State Bank. Morris served on the Havre City Council from 1912 to 1916; from 1914 to 1916 served in the

Montana House of Representatives The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years. Composition of the House :''67th Legislature – 2021� ...

; and from 1916 to 1920 in the

Montana State Senate The Montana Senate is the upper house of the Montana Legislature, the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Montana. The body is composed of 50 senators elected for four years. Composition of the Senate :''67th Legislature – 2021–202 ...

. He served as Assistant Attorney General from 1932 until his election to the

in 1934. Morris remained on the court until 1946, when he unsuccessfully ran for chief justice. Morris died at the age of 88.

References

1869 births 1957 deaths George Washington University alumni Members of the Montana House of Representatives Montana state senators Justices of the Montana Supreme Court {{Montana-state-judge-stub