James M. Dolliver

Dolliver was born and raised in Fort Dodge, Iowa. His mother, Elizabeth Morgent, died of polio when he was a newborn. He graduated school high school in 1942 and then joined the Navy Air Corps. In 1944, Dolliver's father, James I. Dolliver, a University of Chicago-trained lawyer, was elected to Congress from the Sixth District of Iowa, serving in the House of Representatives for twelve years. A great-uncle, Jonathan P. Dolliver, had been a United States Senator from Iowa from 1900 to 1910.

After the end of World War II, Dolliver enrolled at Swarthmore College, and graduated in 1949. He received a LL.B. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1952.

Dolliver took up private practice in Port Angeles and later in Everett. In 1953, Dolliver became the administrative assistant to Congressman Jack Westland (R-Everett), then became an attorney for the state House Republicans. In 1964, Dolliver managed the campaign of Daniel J. Evans, who was elected governor. Dolliver became Evan's chief of staff and political advisor. On May 6, 1976, Evans appointed Dolliver to the Supreme Court. Soon after a re-election in 1992, Dolliver suffered a severe stroke in January 1993, but was able to continue working. In 1998, Dolliver announced he would retire at the end of his term.

In 1992, an amendment to the State Constitution to include a "victim's rights" provision drew Dolliver's criticism on the grounds the constitution protects individuals against the government, but not the actions of other people.

In 1993, Dolliver received the "Outstanding Judge of the Year" award from the Washington State Bar.

In 2000, an endowed professorship was named in honor of Dolliver at the University of Puget Sound, for which he had served as a trustee.

Dolliver married Barbara Jean Babcock (January 28, 1927 – July 10, 2013), whom he met at Swarthmore, and they had six children. Dolliver died on November 24, 2004.