Albert W. Barney Jr.

Albert W. Barney Jr.
Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
In office 1974–1982
Preceded by	James Stuart Holden
Succeeded by	Franklin S. Billings Jr.
Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
In office 1959–1974
Preceded by	Charles Bayley Adams
Succeeded by	Robert W. Larrow
Chief Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
In office 1958–1959
Preceded by	Percival L. Shangraw
Succeeded by	Harold C. Sylvester
Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
In office 1952–1958
Preceded by	Orrin B. Hughes
Succeeded by	Leonard W. Morrison
Judge of the Caledonia Municipal Court
In office 1951–1952
Preceded by	John Swainbank
Succeeded by	Kyle T. Brown
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from St. Johnsbury
In office 1951–1953
Preceded by	Fred W. Knowlton
Succeeded by	Graham S. Newell
Personal details
Born	(1920-10-23)October 23, 1920 St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Died	May 10, 2010(2010-05-10) (aged 89) St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Resting place	Mount Pleasant Cemetery, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Education	Yale University Harvard Law School
Occupation	Attorney
Known for	Presided over Vermont's last death penalty case
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1942–1946
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles/wars	World War II

Albert Wilkins Barney Jr. (October 23, 1920 – May 10, 2010) was an American lawyer and judge. He became an associated justice of the Vermont Supreme Court in 1959. He became chief justice in 1974, and served until his retirement in 1982.

As a superior court judge, Barney presided over Vermont's last death penalty case in 1953.

Early life and education

Barney was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to Albert Wilkins Barney Sr. and Marion Bisbee Barney. He graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1938 and received his undergraduate degree from Yale University. During World War II, Barney served in the United States Navy. Barney owned a restaurant and received his law degree from the Harvard Law School.

Judicial career

Lower courts

Barney was admitted to the bar in 1949. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives in 1951. Barney became a municipal court judge in 1951 and in 1952 was appointed a superior court judge.

State Supreme Court

In 1959, Barney was elected to the Vermont Supreme Court and in 1974, became chief justice. He retired from the bench in 1982.

Death penalty case

When Barney was a state court judge, he presided over the trial of Donald DeMag. Convicted and given a death sentence, Demag was the last person to be executed in the electric chair before the state abolished the death penalty.

Advocacy

Barney was active in the American Academy of Judicial Education. He was Chair, Conference of Chief Justices from 1981 to 1982 and a member of National Center for State Courts in 1981.

Awards

In 1979, the American Judges Association presented Barney its Award of Merit which was given to a judge for outstanding contributions to the judiciary. This award is now called the Chief Justice Richard W. Holmes Award.

In 1997, Barney received the Dwayne B. Sherrer Alumni Distinguished Service Award from St. Johnsbury Academy.

Later life

In the 1980s, Barney served regularly as a retired justice. Until 2006, he also continued to serve on the state supreme court.

Personal life

Barney was married to his wife, Helen, for over 60 years. They had three daughters. Barney died at his home in St. Johnsbury on May 10, 2010.

Selected quotes

In making any law work, it is necessary that it be accepted by the general public that this law is fair and necessary. ... The will of the people must be mixed into every decision of the court.

-Albert W. Barney, after being sworn in Chief Justice, 1974

It's not a job, It's such a responsibility.

-Albert W. Barney, after retiring as Chief Justice, 1982

Sources

• Vermont Supreme Court Vermont Supreme Court Retrieved: 2010-05-15.