Earl David "Bucky" Morton (November 28, 1918October 23, 1995) was an American lawyer, judge, and Republican politician from

Kenosha County, Wisconsin Kenosha County () is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 169,151, and was estimated to be 168,754 in 2024, making it the eighth-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its c ...

. He was a member of the

Wisconsin Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those ...

, representing the 22nd Senate district from 1961 to 1965, and later served 11 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge (1973–1984).

Biography

Earl Morton was born on November 28, 1918, in

Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha () is a city in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Wisconsin, fourth-most populous city in Wisconsin, with a population of 99,986 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. S ...

. He attended

Carroll University Carroll University is a private university in Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States. It was established in 1846 as Wisconsin's first four-year institution of higher learning. The university is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). History ...

and

Marquette University Law School Marquette University Law School is the Law school in the United States, law school of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is one of two law schools in Wisconsin and the only private law school in the state. Founded in 1892 as the Mil ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

Political career

Morton was a member of the Kenosha City Council from 1955 to 1957. He was a member of the Assembly from 1957 to 1960. Morton was a member of the Republican Party. Morton served in the Wisconsin Senate from 1961 to 1965. Morton was defeated running for re-election in 1964. But shortly after leaving office, he was appointed a county judge in Kenosha County, by governor

Warren Knowles Warren Perley Knowles III (August 19, 1908 – May 1, 1993) was an American lawyer and politician who was the 37th governor of Wisconsin from 1965 to 1971. Prior to that, he was the 32nd and 34th lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, and represe ...

. He ran for a vacant

Wisconsin circuit court The Wisconsin circuit courts are the general trial courts in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. There are currently 69 circuits in the state, divided into 9 judicial administrative districts. Circuit court judges hear and decide both civil and crimina ...

judgeship in 1973 and won the general election. Because the seat was already vacant, governor

Patrick Lucey Patrick Joseph Lucey (March 21, 1918 – May 10, 2014) was an American politician. A member of the United States Democratic Party, Democratic Party, he served as the 38th governor of Wisconsin from 1971 to 1977. He was also independent president ...

appointed him to begin his term early. He was re-elected without opposition in 1979. He announced his retirement on his 65th birthday, November 28, 1983, leaving office in January 1984. He died on October 23, 1995, in

Rochester, Minnesota Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. It is located along rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a popul ...

.Wisconsin Joint Resolution 44
/ref>

Biography

Political career

References

See also