Justice James Barrett

Justice Barret of the Tenth Circuit passes on.

This is outside the scope of our usual musings here, but his obituary is an interesting one. Son of the late Frank Barrett, who as born on this day in 1882, Justice Barrett grew up in, and practiced law in, the small town of Lusk, where his father, a former Senator, Congressman, and Governor, is memorialized by way of a bronze plaque in the courthouse. Frank Barrett, his father, is an interesting man in his own right, having chosen to locate in Lusk following his service in World War One, and therefore following a bit of the same career path as the Congressman discussed here just the other day, Vincent Carter. Indeed, they were co-religious, which is an interesting fact as well. Justice Barrett served in the Second World War before entering into practice in Lusk, where he practiced for 18 years before events launched him on the path that would lead to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, where he served for many years.

I don't know that further comments would be very insightful, but it is an interesting look at one lawyer's practice in Wyoming from the mid 20th Century to the early 21st, and by extension, looking at his father, the life of another in the mid 20th Century.