Judge George Belvel Richter - 1899-1986

RICHTER

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 4/2/2011 at 18:18:39

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON REPUBLICAN-STANDARD, November 4, 1986
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Judge George Belvel Richter, age 87, died in Reno, Nevada on October 23, 1986. Judge Richter was born on July 5, 1899. *See note below.* No services were scheduled. Judge Richter is survived by his wife, Lacy and son George B. Richter, both of Reno, Nevada, a daughter, Jean Richter of Mission Viejo, California, and three grandchildren, Jill, Heidi, and George.

After graduating from law school at The University of Iowa, his home state, he opened a general law practice in Waukon, Iowa. The late Arthur H. Jacobson became an associate and later a partner. This relationship continued for 20 years until 1943 when Judge Richter reported for active duty in the Army and was assigned to New York City, New York where he served as chief of the legal division of Selective Service headquarters. In December 1944, he was released from active duty to accept appointment as judge of the 13th Judicial District of Iowa.

During 23 and one half years on the bench, he served as president of the Iowa District Judges' Association, started the law library in the Allamakee County courthouse in Waukon, Iowa and became associated with the National Judicial College as a faculty advisor and instructor on court administration and judicial craftsmanship.

While still on the bench, he agreed to become editor of the Judges' Journal. This led to his retirement two years later when he was asked to join the staff of the judicial college as full-time editor. The move to Reno was an open door to new opportunities to express tremendous desire to improve the judiciary. For the next nine years, he visited sessions at the college and encouraged visiting judges to write articles for the Journal.

When the American Bar Administration in Chicago took over publication of the Journal, Judge Richter was asked to be editor of all legal publications at NJC (National Judicial College). This included editing the Criminal Law Outline, published annually to supply both bench and bar with a comprehensive collection of precedent-setting U.S. Supreme Court cases. In addition to this seven-year assignment, he authored his first book: "Evidenciary Trial Objections," which details more than 200 critical court cases. A program attorney at NJC said that the Criminal Law Outlines and Judge Richter's book have a powerful influence on all the judges who attend the NJC sessions.

Judge Richter was a member of the bar of New York, Iowa, and Nevada but his interests reached beyond the judiciary. He was district commander of the American Legion 1941-42; delegate to the Republican National Convention, 1940; director of the board of education in Waukon, Iowa school district, 1940-1943, and helped plan the Waukon golf course.

In recent years, Judge Richter worked diligently for causes which concerned him deeply. When he learned that some widows of Iowa judges weren't adequately provided for, he launched an intensive campaign by correspondence to better their income. Also, he presented the Missouri plan for electing judges to key people in Nevada, hoping it would reform their judiciary as it did in Iowa.

Ronald Rose, director of alumni and community relations at NJC said: "During the 10 years I've known George, I've come to love him. He's become a permanent part of the college -- as vital as the walls of our building."

NOTE: The obituary did not list his birthplace, the name of his parents, or marriage. The obituary for his daughter, Jean Richter (1924-2005) is on the Allamakee County obituary board. It states she was survived by a brother, Don E. Woodward of Fort Collins, Colorado, who was not mentioned in this obituary.

For family information on Judge Richter, I looked on the web and did find there was an Honorable George Richter in Des Moines, Iowa at the turn of the century who had several sons, one with the name of George, but can not be sure if the son was this George B. Richter. Any other information on Judge Richter was about his writings and court reviews.

On a personal note, the Richters were highly respected in Waukon. Every spring, Mrs. Richter (Lacy), would host a Tea at her home for the girls who were in the graduating class of the Waukon High School. In 1965, I was part of one of these honored groups. I remember, because we were teenage girls, expecting that punch would be served as the beverage and were absolutely shocked when it was the real thing -- TEA. For most of us, it was probably the first time in our life that we had tasted tea! It turned out to be a very pleasant afternoon.

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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