# Clarence R. Magney *American attorney, mayor of Duluth, and associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court* Clarence R. Magney (January 11, 1883 – May 13, 1962) was an attorney and judge. He was mayor of Duluth from 1917 to 1920. From 1943 to 1953 he sat as an associate justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]].[^1] Between those offices he won election as a district court judge. After he left the high court, he worked as its commissioner until he died in 1962.[^2] Judge C. R. Magney State Park, on the North Shore of Lake Superior, bears his name.[^2] ## Early life and education Magney was a native of Trenton, in Pierce County, Wisconsin.[^3] He was educated in the public schools of Bayport, [[Minnesota]].[^3] He completed his studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in 1903 and finished Harvard Law School in 1908.[^3] ## Career After law school, Magney practised with the Duluth firm Jenswold & Jenswold.[^2] Duluth voters chose him as mayor in 1917, and he held the post until 1920.[^2] He subsequently won a seat as a district court judge.[^2] In 1943 Magney received an appointment as associate justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]], and he remained on that bench until 1953.[^2] Wikipedia credits him with a leading part in establishing several state parks and scenic waysides on Lake Superior's North Shore.[^2] Once he retired as a justice, he took up work as a commissioner of the court and held that role until his death in 1962.[^2] ## Personal life Magney's father, Jonas Magney, was born with the surname Magnuson. He came to the United States from Sweden in 1858.[^4] Jonas Magney was the first student at Gustavus. After graduating, he was ordained a Lutheran pastor.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Clarence R. Magney* (revision 1369793359, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead section: birth and death dates, mayoralty of Duluth 1917–1920, and associate justiceship 1943–1953. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_R._Magney [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Clarence R. Magney*, *Career* section (revision 1369793359, retrieved 2026-10-26) — Jenswold & Jenswold practice, mayoral election and term, district court election, 1943 appointment and service to 1953, North Shore parks and waysides, the park named for him, and commissioner work until 1962. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_R._Magney [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Clarence R. Magney*, *Early life and education* section (revision 1369793359, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birthplace, Bayport schooling, and graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College (1903) and Harvard Law School (1908). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_R._Magney [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Clarence R. Magney*, *Personal life* section (revision 1369793359, retrieved 2026-10-26) — father's original surname, emigration from Sweden in 1858, status as the first Gustavus student, and ordination as a Lutheran pastor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_R._Magney