Walter Clark (judge)

Walter McKenzie Clark
Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
In office 1903–1924
Preceded by	David M. Furches
Succeeded by	William A. Hoke
Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
In office 1889–1903
Personal details
Born	(1846-08-19)August 19, 1846 Halifax County, North Carolina
Died	May 19, 1924(1924-05-19) (aged 77) Raleigh, North Carolina
Resting place	Oakwood Cemetery[1] Raleigh, North Carolina
Spouse	Susan Washington Graham
Education	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation	Judge, Lawyer, Politician
Signature
Military career
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service / branch	Confederate States Army
Rank	Lt Colonel (CSA)
Unit	22nd North Carolina Infantry 35th North Carolina Infantry 70th North Carolina Infantry
Commands	6th Battalion, North Carolina Junior Reserves
Battles / wars	American Civil War

Walter McKenzie Clark (August 19, 1846 – May 19, 1924) was a North Carolina politician and attorney who served as an associate justice (1889–1903) and chief justice (1903–1924) of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Clark was born in Halifax County, North Carolina to General David Clark and Anna M. Thorne.^[2] He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a member of the Philanthropic Society. His portrait currently hangs in the chamber of the Philanthropic Society wherein aspiring members are expected to memorize his contributions to North Carolina.^[3] He served as an officer in the Confederate States Army, in 1861 as a Lt. with the 22nd and in 1862 as an Adjutant in 35th North Carolina Infantry regiments during the American Civil War before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating first in his class in 1864, he returned to the war as commanding officer (Major) of the 6th Battalion, North Carolina Junior Reserves. The battalion was quickly integrated into the 1st Junior Reserves Regiment, also known as 70th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, of which he became the lieutenant colonel in 1865. In the 1870s, Clark moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, practiced law, and wrote books on law and history. Clark was married on 27 January 1875 to Susan Washington Graham, daughter of William Alexander Graham.

In April 1885, Governor Alfred M. Scales appointed Clark a judge of the superior court, and in 1889, Gov. Daniel G. Fowle elevated him to the state Supreme Court. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 1890, and in 1894, was re-elected with the support of not only his own Democratic Party, but also that of the Republicans and Populists.

Clark was elected chief justice in 1902 and re-elected several times. In 1912, he unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate as a liberal reformer against fellow Democrat Furnifold Simmons. Clark died in office in Raleigh on May 19, 1924. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery.^[4]

Clark's five children attended North Carolina State University. They include Walter Clark, Jr., who is considered to be the youngest person to ever graduate from the university, and David Clark, who later served on the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees. Clark Dining Hall and David Clark Labs are named after Walter and David, respectively.^[5][6]

• Dictionary of North Carolina Biography
• OurCampaigns.com biography
• North Carolina Manual of 1913
• North Carolina Historical Marker
• Address by Chief Justice Walter Clark Before the Federation of Women's Clubs, New Bern, N. C., 8 May, 1913
• Works by Walter Clark at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Walter Clark at the Internet Archive