Reuben P. Boise - Political Career

Political Career

In 1852, the Oregon Territorial Legislature selected Boise to be the prosecuting attorney for Districts 1 and 2, which covered most of the Willamette Valley. He was selected again the following year and served a total of four years in that capacity. In 1853, he represented Polk and Tillamook counties in the Territorial Legislature as a Democratic Party politician in the lower chamber House of Representatives. The following year, he was selected to help codify Oregon's laws, along with James K. Kelly and Daniel R. Bigelow. In 1857, Boise was a Democratic delegate to the Oregon Constitutional Convention from Polk County. While serving at the Constitutional Convention, Boise served on the Legislation Committee.

In 1857, Boise was appointed to the Territorial Supreme Court by U.S. President James Buchanan to replace Cyrus Olney, beginning service in 1858. He was then elected to the Oregon Supreme Court in 1859 after Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859. Justice Boise served until 1870, winning re-election in 1864. After winning re-election in 1870, he resigned when the election results were contested. Boise was elected to the commission overseeing the construction of the Oregon State Capitol in 1874.

In 1876, he returned to the Oregon Supreme Court after winning the election. Two years later, the Oregon Legislative Assembly divided the court into the Supreme Court and the Oregon Circuit Court, and reduced the number of justices on the Supreme Court to three. With the new court, all prior judges lost their seats and the three positions were filled by appointment of the governor. Boise was appointed by Governor W. W. Thayer to the new court in 1878, with his term ending in 1880. During his time with the court, he served as chief justice three times; from 1864 to 1866, 1870 to 1872, and 1876 to 1878.

After leaving the state's highest court, he was elected as a state circuit court judge for Oregon's third judicial district in 1880, covering Yamhill, Tillamook, Marion, Linn, and Polk counties. He served on the court until 1892, and then entered private legal practice. After six years in private practice in Salem, Boise returned to the circuit court in 1898. He retired from the court in July 1904.