JUDGE JOHN W. BARRETT

(1961-1984)
UNR Oral History Program

Judge John W. Barret was born in Reno, Nevada, on Jun 9, 1917, the son of Esther (Johns) and William Patrick Barret, who also were native-born Nevadans.

He attended schools in Reno and was graduated from the University of Nevada in 1939. After graduation he entered the United States Army in 1939 and was discharged in 1946 as a Lieutenant Colonel, having traveled from Hawaii to Austria in the intervening years.

Upon being released from the army, he entered Hastings College of Law and was graduated from Hastings in 1949 and was admitted to the Nevada State Bar that same year. His private law practice extended from 1949 to May 1, 1961, with service as Deputy Attorney General, State of Nevada, 1952 to 1955. He was appointed District Judge, Department 2, Second Judicial District Court of Nevada, on May 1, 1961.

During his service in the United States Army he was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star medals and the Combat Infantry Badge.

On March 2, 1942, while serving in Hawaii, he married Mary Margaret McGill, whose parents came to Reno from White Pine County, Nevada, and they have four children, Margaret Jo Schebler, Katherine Anne Barrett, John William Barrett and Elizabeth Lynn Barrett.

Judge Barret is a member of the Elks Lodge, the South Reno Lions Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the State Bar of Nevada, the Washoe County Bar Association and the American Bar Association, and is also an active participant, in former years as a coach and presently as Commissioner, of the Reno Little League program.