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    Norton, Fred C.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1967-72 (District 46A); House 1973-87 (District 65A)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 8/19/1928
    Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 10/28/2000
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
    Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer

    EDUCATION

    University of Minnesota; Attended College; Political Science
    Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut; B.A.; 1950
    University of Minnesota, Law School; LL.B.; 1955; Admitted to the Minnesota Bar, 1955

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Naval Reserve; [Dates Unknown]
    State Attorney General Staff: Minnesota Office of the Attorney General (Assistant Attorney General, Taxation Specialist); 1955 to 1966
    Judge: Minnesota Court of Appeals (Initially Appointed by Governor Rudy Perpich, First Elected in 1988); 07/01/1987 to 12/31/1997 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Married; Marvel (remarried around 1980, while in office)
    Children: Five children: Jeffrey (son, with his first wife), Cynthia and Katharine (daughters, with his first wife); Kelly Jonason and Bill Jonason (stepsons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He grew up in Wayzata, Minnesota.

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. "Norton was a liberal..." (Obituary, St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 30, 2000)

    He died of bone marrow cancer at home in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Christ Lutheran Church in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 7479

    SESSIONS SERVED

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 6/25/1987 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Law Division
    • Ways and Means (Chair)
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: He resigned on June 25, 1987 before the Special Session began.
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He was appointed by Governor Rudy Perpich to serve on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Budget
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
    • Governmental Operations (Chair)
    • Governmental Operations: Jobs Creation and Unemployment Issues
    • Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel and Administration - Ex Officio Member
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Law Reform

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Governmental Operations (Chair)
    • Governmental Operations: Administration - Ex Officio Member
    • Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel - Ex Officio Member
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Judicial Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Election Contests (Chair)
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations (Chair) [He was Chair in 1979 only.]
    • Appropriations: State Departments Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: In May 1979, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party gained majority status. They broke into factions over who to support as Speaker; 26 voted for Fred C. Norton while 42 voted for Irvin N. Anderson. However, 49 Independent Republicans joined the 26 Democratic-Farmer-Labor voters in support of Fred C. Norton. So he became Speaker of the House for the 1980 session.

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations (Chair)
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    term photo
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    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations (Chair)
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Rules and Legislative Administration

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Appropriations (Chair)
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    term photo
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46A
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "Norton was a liberal..." (Obituary, St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 30, 2000)
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Environmental Preservation
    • Ethics
    • Governmental Operations
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46A
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "Norton was a liberal..." (Obituary, St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 30, 2000)
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Governmental Operations
    • Insurance
    • Judiciary
    term photo
    Click to view

    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46A
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Lawyer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "Norton was a liberal…" (Obituary, St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 30, 2000)
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Cities of the First Class
    • Civil Administration
    • Claims
    • Judiciary

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books By
    Norton, Fred C. Resume, 1980s.


    Articles & Books About
    Collins, Terry. "Longtime DFL Legislator and State Appellate Judge Dies at Age 72 (Obituary)." Star Tribune, October 30, 2000, p. B7.

    Laszewski, Charles. "F. Norton, 72, Was Legislator and Judge (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 30, 2000.

    Whereatt, Robert. "No Branch of Government Was Left Unserved." Minneapolis Star and Tribune, December 29, 1997, p. B1, B2.

    Whereatt, Robert. "Norton Expected to Resign Today, Ending 20 Years in the Legislature." Minneapolis Star and Tribune, June 25, 1987, p. 13A.

    Nathanson, Iric. "Party Discipline Controversy Trails Norton as He Leaves House (Opinion)." St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, June 24, 1987.

    "A Terrible Way to Appoint New Judges (Editorial)." Minneapolis Star and Tribune, June 2, 1987, p. 8A.

    Smith, Dane. "IR Leader Criticizes Norton Appointment." Minneapolis Star and Tribune, May 30, 1987.

    "Court of Appeals, Norton Good Pick, But Process Flawed (Editorial)." St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, May 29, 1987, p. 10A.

    Chanco, Ben. "Norton Named to Appeals Court. Resigns as House Speaker." St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, May 27, 1987, p. 1A, 4A.


    Archive Collections
    Fred Norton Papers, 1965-1987 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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