Benjamin N. Hulburd

Hulburd was born in Hyde Park, Vermont on May 21, 1898, the son of Roger W. Hulburd and Mabel Julia (Noyes) Hulburd.[1] He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1920, and received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1924.[1] In 1928, he received his LL.B. from Harvard Law School and was admitted to the bar.[1]

Hulburd began a practice in Hyde Park in 1928.[2] A Republican, he was elected state's attorney of Lamoille County soon after becoming a lawyer, and he served until 1935.[2] Hulburd also served in local offices including school board member and village trustee.[2] In 1940, Hulburd was elected Lamoille County Probate Judge, and he served from 1941 to 1949.[3] In 1948, Hulburd was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.[2] He was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives later that year, and he served during the session of 1949.[1]

In 1949, Hulburd was appointed to the Vermont Superior Court.[1] He served until 1955, and advanced through seniority to become the court's chief judge.[4] In 1955, Hulburd was appointed as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, in keeping with Vermont's tradition of promoting the chief judge of the Superior Court.[1][4] He succeeded Olin M. Jeffords, who was promoted to chief justice.[4]

In 1959, Hulburd was appointed as Chief Justice, succeeding Walter H. Cleary.[1] He served until retiring in 1963 because of ill health, and was succeeded by James Stuart Holden.[1]

After joining the superior court, Hulburd became a resident of South Burlington, Vermont.[1] He died in a Burlington, Vermont hospital on April 9, 1964,[1][5] and was buried at Hyde Park Village Cemetery.[5]

In 1928, Hulburd married Dorothy Elizabeth Poustie (1901-1968) of Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1][6] They were the parents of sons Roger William (1930-1998) and George Poustie (b. 1932), and daughter Dale Elizabeth (b. 1932), the wife of Donald L. LeBlanc of Andover, Massachusetts.[1][7][8]