// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Justin L. Quackenbush? A ducktor, obviously.

Justin Lowe Quackenbush
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office June 27, 1995 – October 27, 2024
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office 1989–1995
Preceded by	Robert James McNichols
Succeeded by	William Fremming Nielsen
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office June 18, 1980 – June 27, 1995
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Marshall Allen Neill
Succeeded by	Robert H. Whaley
Personal details
Born	(1929-10-03)October 3, 1929 Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Died	October 27, 2024(2024-10-27) (aged 95) Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Education	University of Idaho (BA) Gonzaga University (LLB)

Justin Lowe Quackenbush (October 3, 1929 – October 27, 2024) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He died on October 27, 2024, aged 95.

Life and career

Quackenbush was born in Spokane, Washington, on October 3, 1929. His father, Carl Quackenbush, was a law student who eventually became a Superior Court judge in Spokane. Quackenbush received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Idaho in 1951. He received a Bachelor of Laws from Gonzaga University School of Law, his father's alma mater, in 1957. He was an officer in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1954. He was a deputy prosecuting attorney in Spokane County, Washington, from 1957 to 1959. He was in private practice in Spokane from 1959 until his judicial nomination. He was active in Democratic Party politics, regularly serving as the campaign manager for Tom Foley's successful Congressional election campaigns starting in 1964 for over a decade. Quackenbush also taught at Gonzaga University School of Law from 1961 to 1967, and was an active Mason.

Federal judicial service

On May 9, 1980, President Jimmy Carter nominated Quackenbush to the seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington vacated by Judge Marshall Allen Neill. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 18, 1980, and received his commission the same day. Because Neill was the only judge in the district, and had died in October 1979, Quackenbush and fellow appointee Judge Robert James McNichols immediately faced a tremendous backlog of cases. Quackenbush served as chief judge from 1989 to June 27, 1995, when he assumed senior status.

Death

Quackenbush died in Spokane on October 27, 2024, at the age of 95.

See also

• List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

Sources

• Justin L. Quackenbush at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.