It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the Honorable Justin L. Quackenbush, (senior) district court judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.  Judge Quackenbush faithfully served the Eastern District of Washington for forty-four years. Nominated by President Jimmy Carter in May 1980, Judge Quackenbush was confirmed unanimously by the Senate and received his commission in June 1980. As an Article III Judge, Quackenbush presided over complex civil and criminal matters, including many high-profile cases in the District, as a visiting judge in other districts in the west and on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Highly respected by his colleagues, Judge Quackenbush served with distinction as Chief Judge of the District from 1989 to 1995, when he assumed senior status.
 
A true son of Eastern Washington, Judge Quackenbush was born in Spokane, Washington in 1929. Graduating from North Central High School, Judge Quackenbush went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Idaho in 1951. After three years of decorated service in the U.S. Navy (1951-1954) during the Korean War, he attended and graduated in the top of his class from Gonzaga School of Law.  His storied legal career began as a Deputy Prosecutor for Spokane County (1957-1959), followed by over twenty years in private practice (1959-1980) before joining the federal bench. A life-long student of the law, Judge Quackenbush served as an instructor at Gonzaga University School of Law from 1961 – 1967, where a lecture series now bears his name in honor of his outstanding contributions to the field of law.
 
A strong champion for Spokane and Eastern Washington, Judge Quackenbush served as the campaign manager for Speaker Foley’s congressional election campaigns beginning in the mid-1960s. Within the legal community, he played a key role in both the establishment of the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and obtaining Congressional approval for the addition of a federal judge position in the District in 1990. Locally, he served in many civic groups and committees.  He will be missed by family, his colleagues, the Eastern District’s legal community and his many friends.