Hamilton S. Burnett

Hamilton S. Burnett (August 20, 1895 – May 1, 1973)[1] was an associate justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1947 to 1963, and then chief justice of the Court until 1969.

Biography

Born in Jefferson County, Tennessee,[1][2] Burnett received an undergraduate degree from Carson–Newman University, served a short stint in the United States Army, and received a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.[1] After briefly practicing law in the office of an uncle in Richmond, Virginia, Burnett moved to Knoxville County (later Knox County), Tennessee, in 1924.[1] In 1934, Burnett became a circuit judge in Knox County, remaining in that position until 1942, when he became a judge of Court of Appeals of Tennessee.[2]

On October 3, 1947, Governor Jim Nance McCord appointed Burnett to a seat on the state supreme court vacated by the death of Alexander W. Chambliss.[1][2][3] Burnett was then re-elected to the seat in 1948, 1950, and 1958. On February 28, 1963, he became chief justice of the court,[2] remaining in this position until his retirement in September 1969.[1]

Death

Burnett died at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville following hip surgery there, at the age of 77.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Former Justice H. S. Burnett Dies in Knox", The Tennessean (May 2, 1973), p. 1, 19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society. "Justices".
  3. ↑ "Burnett Gets State Supreme Court Post", Nashville Banner (October 3, 1947), p. 1.


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