Carroll C. Bridgewater, Jr. (July 8, 1944 – July 20, 2014) was ajudge of Division II of theWashington Court of Appeals, having been out on the court in November 1994 and holding the post until leaving in 2010 due to aheart attack.[1][2]
Bridgewater received aBachelor of Arts inphilosophy fromStanford University in 1966 and was given alaw degree from theUniversity of Texas School of Law in 1969.[3]
After leaving the University of Texas Law School, Bridgewater joined theFederal Trade Commission to do work inconsumer protection inKansas City, Missouri. Three years later, he became adeputy prosecuting attorney inCowlitz County, Washington. He left government employment two years later to enterprivate practice to be adomestic relations,health care, andcriminal defense attorney. In 1986, he was given the post ofProsecuting Attorney of Cowlitz County, which he held until being named to theWashington Court of Appeals in 1994.[3] He was retained by the electorate in 1995, 1998, and 2004.[4]
On June 4, 2010, Bridgewater suffered aheart attack inNuremberg,Germany while on vacation inEurope and was in a medicallyinduced coma for five weeks. Consequently, he missed the June 11 deadline to file for re-election to the Court.[1][2]
During his 16 years on the court, he wrote 1,500 opinions and edited 3,000 opinions.[1]
He was replaced on the court byJill Johanson, who had worked for him in the Cowlitz County Prosecutor's office.[1]
Bridgewater lived inCastle Rock, Washington, with his wife, Kay, with whom he had three sons.[1][3] He died on July 20, 2014.[5]
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| Preceded by | Judge of theWashington Court of Appeals, Division II November 1994 – January 10, 2011 | Succeeded by |