George M. Powers (December 19, 1861 – June 24, 1938) was a Vermont attorney, politician, and judge. He was most notable for his service as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1904 to 1906, and again from 1909 to 1913, and chief justice from 1913 to 1915 and 1929 until his death.
In 1904, Powers was appointed an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, replacing Wendell Phillips Stafford, who had resigned in order to accept an appointment as a federal judge.[2][5] Powers served until 1906, when his position was eliminated after a newly enacted law reduced the size of the court.[2]
Powers served as a judge of the Vermont Superior Court from 1906 to 1909, when he was again appointed to the Supreme Court,[2] and was succeeded on the Superior Court by Fred M. Butler.[6] In 1909, he received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Vermont.[7] In 1913, Powers was appointed to succeed John W. Rowell as Chief Justice, and he served until 1915, when he was replaced by Loveland Munson.[2]
Powers was re-appointed as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court in 1915, and served until 1929, when he was again appointed Chief Justice following the death of John H. Watson.[2] Powers served as chief justice until his death, and was succeeded by Sherman R. Moulton.[2]
Death and burial
Powers died in Morrisville on June 24, 1938.[2] He was buried at Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville.[8]
Family
Powers was married to Gertrude Woodbury (1872–1962),[9][10] the daughter of Governor Urban A. Woodbury.[2] Their children included one son and two daughters;[2] Horace Henry, Mildred Dorothy, and Elizabeth Lillian.[11]
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