John Wallace Winborne (1884–1966) was an American jurist who served on the

North Carolina Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina is the state of North Carolina's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists ...

from 1937 to 1962, including service as chief justice from 1956 to 1962. Born in Chowan County, North Carolina, Winborne graduated from the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...

, moved to Marion, North Carolina around 1910, and joined the law firm of J. Will Pless. He became active in politics, serving as chairman of the

North Carolina Democratic Party The North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) is the North Carolina affiliate of the Democratic Party. It is headquartered in the historic Goodwin House, located in Raleigh. Governor Roy Cooper is a North Carolina Democrat. Since the 2010 passage of ...

at one time. Winborne was also a

mason Mason may refer to: Occupations * Mason, brick mason, or bricklayer, a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork, or who lays any combination of stones, bricks, cinder blocks, or similar pieces * Stone mason, a craftsman in the stone-cut ...

and rose to become grand master of the state Masonic Lodge. He was appointed by Gov. Clyde R. Hoey to the state's highest court as an associate justice when the court's size was increased from five to seven justices in 1937. Gov.

Luther Hodges Luther Hartwell Hodges (March 9, 1898October 6, 1974) was a businessman and American politician. After a career in textile manufacturing, he entered public service, gaining some state appointments. Elected as lieutenant governor of North Carolin ...

appointed Winborne chief justice in 1956 after Chief Justice Barnhill retired.

References

External links

Charles Milton Shaffer Papers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winborne, J Chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court North Carolina Democrats 1884 births 1966 deaths 20th-century American judges People from Chowan County, North Carolina People from Marion, North Carolina