Raymond E. Peters
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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 The University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) is the law school of the University of California, Berkeley. The school was commonly referred to as "Boalt Hall" for many years, although it was never the official name. This cam ...
, and graduated with a LL.B. degree. In 1930, Peters became Chief Law Secretary of the California Supreme Court. In 1939, Governor
Culbert Olson Culbert Levy Olson (November 7, 1876 – April 13, 1962) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 29th governor of California from 1939 to 1943. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Olson was previous ...
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 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 San Benito County (; ''San Benito'', Spanish for " St. Benedict"), officially the County of San Benito, is a county located in the Central Coast region of California. Situated in the California Coast Ranges, the county had a population of 64 ...
's "right to work" ordinance is "unconstitutional and contrary to the state's public policy." In 1959, by appointment of Governor
Pat Brown Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown (April 21, 1905 – February 16, 1996) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd governor of California from 1959 to 1967. His first elected office was as district attorney for San Francisco, and he ...
, 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 to take Peter's seat as an associate justice on that court. A liberal lion on the court led by
Roger J. Traynor Roger John Traynor (February 12, 1900 – May 14, 1983) was the 23rd Chief Justice of California (1964–1970) and an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from 1940 to 1964. Previously, he had served as a Deputy Attorney General ...
, 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, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
appointed William P. Clark Jr. 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 The California Courts of Appeal are the state intermediate appellate courts in the U.S. state of California. The state is geographically divided along county lines into six appellate districts.
, First District.
Past & Present Justices
California State Courts.


See also

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List of justices of the Supreme Court of California The Supreme Court of California is the highest judicial body in the state and sits at the apex of the judiciary of California. Its membership consists of the Chief Justice of California and six associate justices who are nominated by the Govern ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peters, Raymond E. 1903 births 1973 deaths University of California, Berkeley alumni UC Berkeley School of Law alumni American legal scholars 20th-century California state court judges Lawyers from Berkeley, California Justices of the Supreme Court of California Judges of the California Courts of Appeal 20th-century American lawyers Culbert Olson political appointees