Raymond Elmer Peters (April 17, 1903 – January 2, 1973) was an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California from March 26, 1959 to January 2, 1973.
Biography
Peters was born in Oakland on April 17, 1903, and educated in the public schools. After high school, he continued his education at the
University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and graduated with a LL.B. degree.
In 1930, Peters became Chief Law Secretary of the California Supreme Court. In 1939, Governor
Culbert Olson appointed Peters the Presiding Justice of the then District Court of Appeal, First District, Division One, replacing John F. Tyler. In December 1940, Peters was retained by the voters in the election. In November 1948, he was president of the conference of California judges, and led a study a code conduct of judicial proceedings. In February 1949, Chief Justice
Phil S. Gibson
Phil Sheridan Gibson (November 28, 1888 – April 28, 1984) was the 22nd Chief Justice of California for more than 24 years.
Early life and education
Gibson was born in Grant City, Missouri on November 28, 1888. He was the son of William Jesse a ...
appointed Peters to a two-year term on the State Judicial Council. His notable cases on the appellate bench include a September 1958 decision holding
San Benito County's "right to work" ordinance is "unconstitutional and contrary to the state's public policy."
In 1959, by appointment of Governor
Pat Brown, Peters became an associate justice of the California Supreme Court.
At the same time, Governor Brown appointed Absalom Francis Brown as the new Presiding Justice of the appellate court's First District, Division One, and
Mathew O. Tobriner
Mathew Oscar Tobriner (April 2, 1904 – April 7, 1982) was an American lawyer and law professor who served as an associate justice of the California Supreme Court from 1962 to 1982.
Early life and education
A native of San Francisco, Tobriner ...
to take Peter's seat as an associate justice on that court. A liberal lion on the court led by
Roger J. Traynor, Peters' notable cases include In ''People v. Belous'' (1969), a landmark abortion decision that protected the constitutional right of a woman to control her own body. In December 1967, he wrote the majority opinion striking down the loyalty oath required in the state constitution of public employees. In 1971, he authored an opinion prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.
On January 2, 1973, Peters died while in office. Governor
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
appointed
William P. Clark Jr.
William Patrick Clark Jr. (October 23, 1931August 10, 2013) was an American rancher, judge, and public servant who served under President Ronald Reagan as the Deputy Secretary of State from 1981 to 1982, United States National Security Advisor f ...
to fill the vacant seat.
Personal life
Peters was married to Marion Estabrook and had one daughter, Janet E. (Peters) Garrison and one son Douglas who died at 16 years of age.
Footnotes
External links
Raymond E. Peters California Supreme Court Historical Society.
Court opinions authored by Raymond E. Peters Courtlistener.com.
California Court of Appeal, First District.
Past & Present Justices California State Courts.
See also
*
List of justices of the Supreme Court of California
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peters, Raymond E.
1903 births
1973 deaths
University of California, Berkeley alumni
UC Berkeley School of Law alumni
American legal scholars
20th-century American judges
Lawyers from Berkeley, California
Justices of the Supreme Court of California
Judges of the California Courts of Appeal
20th-century American lawyers