Jesse Addison Udall (June 24, 1893 – May 11, 1980) was an American jurist and member of the Udall political family who served as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. He also served in the Arizona House of Representatives.

Jesse Addison Udall
Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
In office
January 1964 – December 1964
Preceded byCharles C. Bernstein
Succeeded byLorna E. Lockwood
Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
In office
1960–1972
Preceded byLevi Stewart Udall
Succeeded byWilliam A. Holohan
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
1931–1938
Personal details
Born(1893-06-24)June 24, 1893
Eagar, Territory of Arizona
DiedMay 11, 1980(1980-05-11) (aged 86)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Lela Lee
(died 1976)

Lillian Cluff Jenkins
(m. 1978)
Children6
Parents
RelativesAddison Pratt (great-grandfather)
Stewart Udall (nephew)
Mo Udall (nephew)
Gordon H. Smith (grandson)
Alma materUniversity of Arizona Law School

Early life

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Jesse Udall was born on June 24, 1893, at a house near Eagar, Arizona, to Ida Frances (née Hunt) and David King Udall.[1][citation needed] He was named after Jesse Nathaniel Smith and Addison Pratt, his great-grandfather.[citation needed] He served as an ambulance driver for the U.S. Army in France during World War I.[1] He graduated from the University of Arizona Law School in 1924.[1][citation needed]

Career

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Udall practiced law in Safford. He was a county attorney in Graham County in 1925 and 1926. He was a Republican and served as in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1930 to 1943. In 1939, he became judge of the Arizona Superior Court.[1][2]

Udall helped organize an Arizona National Guard company during World War II. He was the chief of the Army Internal Security Division's review section in Washington, D.C.[1] In 1945, he continued his law practice in Safford. In 1956, he returned as judge of the Arizona Superior Court. He served in that role until 1958.[1] He then served as president of the Southern California mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.[1] In 1960, Governor Paul Fannin succeeded his brother Levi on the Arizona Supreme Court. He was chief justice of the supreme court in 1964 and 1969.[1]

Udall was bishop of the Thatcher Ward and was twice president of St. Joseph Stake Academy. He was also a patriarch of Tempe Stake.[1]

Personal life

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Udall (right) and Arizona Governor George W. P. Hunt, 1916.

Udall married Lela Lee. She died in 1976.[2] He married Lillian (née Cluff) Jenkins in 1978.[3] He had six children, Jessica, Addison R., Kenyon, Lela Lee, Mary Louise and David K.[1] His nephews were U.S. Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and U.S. Representative Mo Udall.[2] His grandson, Gordon H. Smith was a U.S. Senator from Oregon. His grandson Jesse Udall is the husband of Michelle Udall.[citation needed] He lived on Alameda Drive in Tempe.[1]

Udall died on May 11, 1980, aged 86, at a hospital in Phoenix.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Jesse Udall, Ex-Chief Justice in State, Dies at 86". The Arizona Republic. 1980-05-13. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-11-03 – via Newspapers.com. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Jesse Udall, Ex-Jurist in Arizona, Dies". Albuquerque Journal. 1980-05-13. p. E8. Retrieved 2024-11-03 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ "Lillian Udall". Enterprise-Record. 2000-05-05. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-11-03 – via Newspapers.com. 
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Legal offices
Preceded by Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
1960–1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
1964
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
1969