William T. Beeks

William T. Beeks
William T. Beeks
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
	In office; May 31, 1973 – December 30, 1978
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
	In office; 1971–1973
Preceded by	George Hugo Boldt
Succeeded by	William Nelson Goodwin
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
	In office; August 15, 1961 – May 31, 1973
Appointed by	John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	John Clyde Bowen
Succeeded by	Donald S. Voorhees
Personal details
Born	William Trulock Beeks; May 6, 1906; El Reno, Oklahoma
Died	December 30, 1988 (aged 82); Seattle, Washington
Education	University of Washington School of Law (LL.B.)

William Trulock Beeks (May 6, 1906 – December 30, 1988) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Education and career

Born in El Reno, Oklahoma, Beeks received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Washington School of Law in 1932. He was in private practice in Seattle, Washington from 1932 to 1942 before serving in the United States Army during World War II, from 1942 to 1946, where he achieved the rank of Colonel.^[1] He served as lead defense attorney for the 43 prisoners tried in the Fort Lawton Riot case, the largest and longest United States Army court-martial of World War II.^{[citation needed]} He returned to private practice in Seattle from 1947 to 1961.^[1]

On August 4, 1961, Beeks was nominated by President John F. Kennedy to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington vacated by Judge John Clyde Bowen. Beeks was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 15, 1961, and received his commission the same day. He served as Chief Judge from 1971 to 1973, assuming senior status due to a certified disability on May 31, 1973, and serving in that capacity until his death on December 30, 1988, in Seattle.^[1]