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Donald C. Wintersheimer

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Donald C. Wintersheimer
Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 6th district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 1, 2007
Preceded byJohn Jay O'Hara
Succeeded byWilfrid Schroder
Personal details
Born
Donald Carl Wintersheimer[1]

(1931-04-21)April 21, 1931
Covington, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedFebruary 18, 2021(2021-02-18) (aged 89)
Covington, Kentucky, U.S.
SpouseAlice Rabe
Children3 sons, 2 daughters
Parents
  • Carl Wintersheimer (father)
  • Marie Kohl (mother)
EducationVilla Madonna College (A.B. 1953)
Xavier University (M.A. 1957)
University of Cincinnati College of Law (J.D. 1960)

Donald Carl Wintersheimer (April 21, 1931 – February 18, 2021) was an American jurist who was a justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court from 1983 to 2006.

Early life and career

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Wintersheimer was born April 21, 1931, in Covington, Kentucky, the son of Carl and Marie Kohl Wintersheimer.[2] He was raised in Bellevue, Kentucky, and attended Villa Madonna College, receiving an A.B. in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry from 1953 to 1955, then went on to earn an M.A. from Xavier University in 1957 and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1960. After beginning in the private practice of law and marrying Alice Rabe, he was the solicitor for Covington for fourteen years, and became known as an advocate for consumer protection.[3]

Judicial and later career

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Wintersheimer was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1976, and to the Kentucky Supreme Court in 1982, defeating appointed incumbent John Jay O'Hara. He won reelection in 1990 and 1998.[4] He served from January 3, 1983, to January 1, 2007.[5][6] He was a prolific opinion writer, including opinions that established the constitutional basis for the family court in Kentucky, established the constitutional basis for economic development in Kentucky, established the tort of outrage in Kentucky, and established the guidelines for open records investigations in Kentucky.[4] He taught business law at Thomas More University before becoming an adjunct professor in constitutional law at Chase College of Law for twenty years.

He died on February 18, 2021, in Covington.[3]

Electoral history

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1976 general election: Judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, 6th district, 2nd division[7]
Candidate Votes %
Donald C. Wintersheimer 38,520 58.1
Robert F. Greene 27,826 41.9
1982 primary election: Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 6th district[8]
Candidate Votes %
Donald C. Wintersheimer 11,077 39.0
John Jay O'Hara (i) 9,068 31.6
Tim Nolan 8,235 29.0
1982 general election: Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 6th district (unofficial results)[9]
Candidate Votes %
Donald C. Wintersheimer 42,734 54.2
John Jay O'Hara (i) 36,077 45.8
1990 general election: Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 6th district[10]
Candidate Votes %
Donald C. Wintersheimer unopposed 100
1998 general election: Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 6th district[11]
Candidate Votes %
Donald C. Wintersheimer 62,336 61.8
Edwin Kagin 38,538 38.2

References

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  1. ^ "1954-1955 Xavier University The College of Liberal Arts, Graduate Division Course Catalog". Xavier University. 1955.
  2. ^ Bloemer, Doona M. (2014). The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813159966.
  3. ^ a b "A Resolution adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Justice Donald C. Wintersheimer" (PDF). Kentucky Senate. 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Justice Donald C. Wintersheimer Digital Collection". Chase College of Law. 2012.
  5. ^ "Four new members become majority on state Supreme Court". The Courier-Journal. 1983-01-03.
  6. ^ "Section 119 Terms of office" (PDF). Kentucky legislature.
  7. ^ "General Election, Appeals Court" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. 1976.
  8. ^ "Primary Election, May 25, 1982, Supreme Court Judge, Sixth District" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. 1982.
  9. ^ "The results of Tuesday's congressional, judicial races". The Courier-Journal. 1982-11-04.
  10. ^ "Leibson captures second term on Kentucky Supreme Court". The Courier-Journal. 1990-11-07.
  11. ^ "6th Supreme Court District 1998 General" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. 1998.
Political offices
Preceded by Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 6th district
1983–2006
Succeeded by