# C. Donald Peterson *American jurist and Republican politician who served on the Minnesota Supreme Court (1967–1987)* Carl Donald Peterson (February 2, 1918 – December 19, 1987) was a Republican member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] from 1959 to 1963. He was a member of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] from 1967 to 1987.[^1] Peterson was a native of [[Minneapolis]]. He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Forces and later served as an Air Force judge advocate in Japan during the Korean War.[^1] His brother, P. Kenneth Peterson, also sat in the [[Minnesota Legislature]] and was mayor of Minneapolis.[^1][^2] ## Early life and education Peterson was a native of Minneapolis, [[Minnesota]]. He earned a bachelor's degree at the [[University of Minnesota]] and a law degree at the University of Illinois.[^1] ## Military service During World War II, Peterson was in the United States Army Air Forces. In the Korean War, he was posted to Japan as a judge advocate with the United States Air Force.[^1] ## Legislative career As a Republican, Peterson held a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1959 through 1963.[^1] ## Judicial career Peterson sat on the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1967 to 1987. The Wikipedia summary describes the tenure as 19 years.[^1] ## Death Peterson died of cancer on December 19, 1987, in Edina, Minnesota.[^1] ## Family P. Kenneth Peterson, his brother, was also a member of the Minnesota Legislature and served as mayor of Minneapolis.[^1] The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library maintains a legislator entry for P. Kenneth Peterson.[^2] Barbara Peterson, his daughter, won the Miss USA title in 1976.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *C. Donald Peterson* (revision 1365519720, retrieved October 26, 2026) — birth and death dates, education, military service, party, Minnesota House service 1959–1963, Minnesota Supreme Court service 1967–1987, death in Edina, brother's offices and daughter's 1976 title. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Donald_Peterson [^2]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *P. Kenneth Peterson* (Legislators Past & Present entry) — establishes that P. Kenneth Peterson is listed as a Minnesota legislator. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=14343