William West Harvey

William West Harvey (November 21, 1869 – September 27, 1958[1]) was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from January 8, 1923 to January 8, 1945, and chief justice from January 8, 1945 to March 1, 1956.[2]

In 1906 he set up his own practice in Ashland, Kansas and in the same year became the Clark County attorney for one term.[1] He then went on to be the representative for Clark County starting in 1917 for three terms, including being elected speaker of the house in his third term.[1][3] June 17, 1921 he was made Assistant Attorney General, he was the third member of his family to hold the position.[4]

Harvey stood for the supreme court in 1922 against the incumbent Judson S. West who had already served two terms.[5] Harvey won the number 2 position with 38% of the vote, just beating West who gained 37% of the vote.[6] In 1939 the retirement of Justice William Easton Hutchinson caused a shuffle of the court with only Justice Harvey and Chief Justice John Shaw Dawson keeping their places.[7] He then became the Chief Justice in 1945 filling the position vacated by the retirement of Chief Justice Dawson.[8]

Harvey resigned as Chief Justice as of March 1, 1956 before the end of his full term with Justice William A. Smith being promoted to the Chief Justice position.[9] The vacant No. 2 position on the court was filled by Harold R. Fatzer.[10]

Both Harvey and his brother Alexander Miller Harvey were thought to have been members of the Ku Klux Klan.[11]