William Albert Norris

William Norris
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
In office June 18, 1980 – July 7, 1994
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Walter Ely
Succeeded by	William Fletcher
Personal details
Born	(1927-08-30) August 30, 1927 Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Princeton University Stanford University

William Albert Norris (born August 30, 1927) is a former judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Norris was nominated for the position by Jimmy Carter on February 27, 1980 after the seat which Walter Raleigh Ely, Jr. had occupied became vacant. After being confirmed by the senate in June, 1980, he received his commission on June 18, 1980. He assumed senior status on July 7, 1994, and then retired, and his service terminated, on October 24, 1997.

Norris received most of his education during his adolescent years at Princeton University, only moving in 1954 to study at Stanford Law School. Norris had served in the United States Navy between 1945 and 1947, as well as being hired as a private law clerk, among other jobs at different times.

Judge Norris is known for his 1989 concurring opinion in Watkins v. U.S. Army, a case challenging the Army's policy of refusing to allow openly gay members. Judge Norris' view in that case, that sexual orientation is a suspect classification deserving of heightened scrutiny under the Constitution's Equal Protection clause, did not carry the day. But it has proven influential in many state court and lower federal court opinions striking down bans on gay marriage in the 2000s and 2010s.

See also

• List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States

References

• William Albert Norris at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Walter Ely	Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 1980–1994	Succeeded by William Fletcher