# Donald B. Anderson

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**Donald Brown Anderson** (October 28, 1904 – December 16, 1956)[1][2] was a justice of the [Idaho Supreme Court](/source/Idaho_Supreme_Court) from 1955 to 1956. He received his [LL.B.](/source/Bachelor_of_Laws#United_States) from the [University of Idaho College of Law](/source/University_of_Idaho_College_of_Law) in 1927.[3]

## Early life

Born in [Canada](/source/Canada) at [Cardston](/source/Cardston), [Alberta](/source/Alberta), Anderson's family moved to the [United States](/source/United_States) in his childhood and farmed near [Weiser, Idaho](/source/Weiser,_Idaho). He graduated from [Weiser High School](/source/Weiser_High_School), received his LL.B. degree from the [University of Idaho College of Law](/source/University_of_Idaho_College_of_Law) in 1927,[3] and entered the practice of law in [Canyon County](/source/Canyon_County,_Idaho) at [Caldwell](/source/Caldwell,_Idaho).[2]

## Public service

Anderson served as the prosecuting attorney of Canyon County for six years in the 1930s, and was a probate judge for four years, from 1937 to 1941. In April 1941, he joined the [Federal Bureau of Investigation](/source/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation) (FBI), working in [Chicago](/source/Chicago) and [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington,_D.C.), ultimately becoming a special assistant to the [Attorney General](/source/United_States_Attorney_General) [J. Howard McGrath](/source/J._Howard_McGrath). Anderson returned to Idaho in 1948 to resume the practice of law, and served as a judge of the Idaho Seventh Judicial District from 1950 to 1954, when he was elected to the state supreme court, where he remained until his death.[2]

## Personal life and death

On September 2, 1955, Anderson married Lois Nichols of Boise, with whom he had a son, Ross Nichols Anderson.[2]

On December 16, 1956, Anderson was reported missing from his home, and a search ensued.[2] Early the following day, Anderson's body was found near his vehicle, approximately 100 feet (30 m) off of [U.S. Highway 30](/source/U.S._Route_30_in_Idaho) just west of Caldwell, with two bullet wounds to the head,[1][4][5] and a [.38 caliber](/source/.38_caliber) [revolver](/source/Revolver) by his side.[6] It was determined that the first shot had failed to penetrate the skull,[4] and the death was ruled a [suicide](/source/Suicide).[6] Anderson was buried at Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell.

## See also

- [List of solved missing person cases](/source/Lists_of_solved_missing_person_cases)

## References

1. ["State supreme court justice takes own life"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rspeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2462%2C5766442). *Lewiston Morning Tribune*. Associated Press. December 18, 1956. p. 1.

1. ["Justice Donald Anderson Found Dead in Automobile"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-justice-donald-ander/135442985/). *[The Idaho Statesman](/source/The_Idaho_Statesman)*. December 18, 1956. p. 11. Retrieved November 19, 2023. – via newspapers.com.

1. ["Seniors"](https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1927/64). Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1927. p. 60.

1. ["State Supreme Court Judge Is Found Dead"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-news-state-supreme-court-judge/135443164/). *[Times-News](/source/Times-News_(Idaho))*. [UP](/source/United_Press_International). December 17, 1956. p. 1. Retrieved November 19, 2023. – via newspapers.com.

1. ["High Idaho Judge Is Shot to Death"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-high-idaho-judge-is-shot-to-d/135444985/). *[Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News)*. [AP](/source/Associated_Press). December 18, 1956. p. 17c. Retrieved November 19, 2023. – via newspapers.com.

1. ["Idaho Justice Takes Own Life"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/tyler-morning-telegraph-idaho-justice-ta/135445130/). *[Tyler Morning Telegraph](/source/Tyler_Morning_Telegraph)*. [INS](/source/International_News_Service). December 19, 1956. p. 5. Retrieved November 19, 2023. – via newspapers.com.

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