George F. Boney

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George Frank Boney (July 3, 1930 – August 30, 1972)[1] was a justice of the Supreme Court of Alaska from December 2, 1968, until his death, serving as chief justice after 1970.[1]

Born in Savannah, Georgia, Boney received an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 1951 and a law degree from Harvard Law School.[2] He became a senior partner in the largest law firm in Alaska.[1] In 1968, Governor Wally Hickel appointed Boney and Roger G. Connor to two newly created seats on the state supreme court, which expanded the court from three justices to five.[3]

Following the retirement of Buell A. Nesbett in 1970, Boney was named by Governor Keith Miller to serve as the court's second chief justice,[2] becoming the youngest chief justice of any state supreme court at the time.[4] He died in a boating accident at Cheri Lake, Matanuska-Susitna.[1] The older of the two state courthouses in Anchorage, the one in which the Supreme Court holds its sessions, is named in his honor.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Alaska's Top Judge Killed", Kitsap Sun (August 31, 1972), p. 23.
  2. ^ a b "Boney named chief justice", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (May 8, 1970), p. 1.
  3. ^ "Alaska Supreme Court Expanded On Appointments of Connor, Boney", Tundra Times (December 6, 1968), p. 7.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Elaine B., ed. (1973). "Alaska Court System". Alaska Blue Book (First ed.). Juneau: Alaska Department of Education, Division of State Libraries. p. 99.
  5. ^ "The Alaska Court System: Celebrating 50 Years" (PDF). Retrieved March 14, 2024.