Walter Henry Cleary (November 17, 1887 – April 12, 1974) was a Vermont attorney and judge. His career was most notable for his service as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1948 to 1958, and chief justice from 1958 to 1959.
Cleary practiced law in Newport.[1] A Republican, from 1916 to 1934 he was a U.S. Commissioner, empowered to conduct initial hearings on cases including illegal entry into the United States and Prohibition Amendment violations.[1] He was Newport's city attorney from 1922 to 1934, and was president of the Vermont Bar Association from 1932 to 1933.[1] Cleary was president of the National Bank of Newport from 1933 to 1934.[1]
In 1934, Cleary was appointed a judge of the Vermont Superior Court.[1] He advanced through seniority to become the court's chief judge in 1938, and served in this position until 1948.[1][4]
In 1948, Cleary was appointed an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, replacing Allen R. Sturtevant, who had retired.[4] He served until 1958, when he was appointed to replace Olin M. Jeffords as chief justice.[4] He held this post until retiring in March 1959, which was required because he had reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.[4][5] He was succeeded as chief justice by Benjamin N. Hulburd.[5]
Cleary died at a nursing home in Newport on April 12, 1974.[3] He was buried at St. Elizabeth's Cemetery in Lyndonville.[3]
Family
In 1917, Cleary married Arlene M. Decoteau.[1][3] They were the parents of a son, John McArthur Cleary (1918-1984), an editorial writer for the Hartford Times, and a daughter, Louise Ellen (1920-2006), the wife of Charles Horvath.[1][3]
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