Gus J. Solomon

Born in Portland, Oregon, Solomon was the child of immigrant Jewish parents, his father having been born in Romania and his mother in Russia.[1] Solomon received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago in 1926 and a Bachelor of Laws from Stanford Law School in 1929. He was in private practice in Portland from 1929 to 1949, first individually and then in partnership with Raymond M. Kell.[2] The Portland law firm of Kell, Alterman & Runstein traces its origin to his practice.[3]

On October 21, 1949, Solomon received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon created by 63 Stat. 493. Formally nominated to the same seat by President Truman on January 5, 1950, he was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 27, 1950, and received his commission on July 5, 1950. He served as Chief Judge from 1958 to 1971 and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1963 to 1965, assuming senior status on September 1, 1971 and serving in that capacity until his death on February 15, 1987.[2]

The Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse was named in his honor.

• Gus Jerome Solomon at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.