Samuel Marion Driver

Who was Samuel Marion Driver?

Samuel Marion Driver was a United States federal judge.

Born in Wamic, Oregon, Driver received an LL.B. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1916. He was in private practice in Waterville, Washington from 1916 to 1923. He was in the United States Army, 91st Division in the aftermath of World War I, from 1918 to 1919, achieving the rank of Corporal. He was a prosecuting attorney of Douglas County, Washington from 1922 to 1923. He was secretary to U.S. Rep. Sam B. Hill in Washington, D.C. from 1923 to 1926. He received an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law School in 1926. He was a deputy prosecuting attorney of Chelan County, Washington from 1926 to 1927, returning to private practice in Wenatchee, Washington from 1927 to 1937. He was the prosecuting attorney of Chelan County from 1935 to 1937. He was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington from 1937 to 1940. He was a judge on the Washington State Supreme Court from 1940 to 1946, also serving as a Colonel in the United States Army JAG Corps during World War II, from 1942 to 1946.

On March 12, 1946, Driver was nominated by President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington vacated by Lewis B. Schwellenbach. Driver was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 1946, and received his commission on April 13, 1946. He served as chief judge from 1948 to 1958, when he died, in Woodland, California.