Home County: Boone
Term of service at the Supreme Court of Missouri: January 1979 - December 1989
Judge Warren D. Welliver was born and raised in Butler, Missouri.[i] After graduating from Butler public schools, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he graduated with his undergraduate degree in 1946.[ii] Welliver continued to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia Law School and in 1948 received his law degree.[iii] He was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1948[iv] and practiced law in Columbia, Missouri, from 1948 until 1977.[v] During that time, he served as president of The Missouri Bar (1967-1968).[vi] Additionally, Welliver served one term as assistant prosecuting attorney for Boone County.[vii] In 1977, he won the state senatorial election in the 19th District state senate district and served for a term.[viii]
In January 1979, Governor Joseph Teasdale appointed Welliver to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of Missouri.[ix] He was considered “The Great Dissenter” on the Court for authoring as many dissenting opinions as majority opinions.[x] He helped establish a committee to study the appeals process of convicted criminals facing the death penalty and was successful in shortening the process from three years to one year.[xi] He continued to serve on the Supreme Court of Missouri until his mandatory retirement age in 1989.[xii]
Judge Welliver was involved with a variety of committees and councils, including the St. Louis Bar Association;[xiii] American Judicature Society; Missouri Law School Foundation;[xiv] American College of Trial Lawyers;[xv] and National Association of College and University Attorneys.[xvi] He was also an honorary member of the Order of the Coif.[xvii] Judge Welliver was the Court liaison for the Supreme Court of Missouri Historical Society.[xviii]
Judge Warren Welliver died October 29, 2007.[xix]
[i] “Obituaries: Warren Welliver, 1920-2007.” Columbia Daily Tribune. (2007).
[ii] Roy Blunt, Secretary of State, Steven N. Ahrens, ed., Official Manual, State of Missouri, 1987-1988. (Jefferson City, MO, 1988), 201.
[iii] Jason Rosenbaum, “Welliver remembered for strong beliefs.” Columbia Daily Tribune (2007). See also The Associated Press, “Warren Welliver, 1920-2007, Missouri Supreme Court judge was known for principled views,” St. Louis Post Dispatch (2007).
[iv] James C. Kirkpatrick, Secretary of State, Kenneth M. Johnson, ed. Official Manual, State of Missouri, 1979-1980. (Jefferson City, MO, 1980) 183.
[v] Roy Blunt, Secretary of State, Steven N. Ahrens, ed. Official Manual, State of Missouri, 1987-1988. (Jefferson City, MO, 1988), 201.
[vi] Jason Rosenbaum, “Welliver remembered for strong beliefs.” Columbia Daily Tribune (2007).
[vii] Roy Blunt, Secretary of State, Steven N. Ahrens, ed. Official Manual, State of Missouri, 1987-1988. (Jefferson City, MO, 1988), 201.
[viii] Jason Rosenbaum, “Welliver remembered for strong beliefs.” Columbia Daily Tribune (2007).
[ix] “Ex-Legislator Joins Missouri High Court.” The Kansas City Times. (1979). See also Jason Rosenbaum, “Welliver remembered for strong beliefs.” Columbia Daily Tribune (1989).
[x] “The Great Dissenter Steps Down.” Columbia Daily Tribune (1989).
[xi] Lori Beth Hughes, “Justice Welliver retiring.” Columbia Missourian (1989).
[xii] “The Great Dissenter Steps Down.” Columbia Daily Tribune (1989).
[xiii] Roy Blunt, Secretary of State, Steven N. Ahrens, ed. Secretary of State, Official Manual, State of Missouri, 1987-1988. (Jefferson City, MO, 1988), 201.
[xiv] “Obituaries: Warren Welliver, 1920-2007.” Columbia Daily Tribune (2007).
[xv] “Obituaries: Warren Welliver, 1920-2007.” Columbia Daily Tribune (2007).
[xvi] Roy Blunt, Secretary of State, Steven N. Ahrens, ed. Official Manual, State of Missouri, 1987-1988. (Jefferson City, MO, 1988), 201.
[xvii] James C. Kirkpatrick, Secretary of State, Kenneth M. Johnson, ed. Official Manual, State of Missouri, 1979-1980.183.
[xviii] “Obituaries: Warren Welliver, 1920-2007.” Columbia Daily Tribune (2007).
[xix] “Missouri Supreme Court judge was known for principled views.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch (2007).
Biographical information authored by Ms. Hannah Siegel, 2017 Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri.