Boswell, H. James. American Blue Book Western Washington. Seattle, Lowman and
Hanford Co., 1922. p. 50.

JUDGE RALPH KAUFFMAN, of Ellensburg, Wash., is not only one of the best
qualified lawyers in the Northwest, but a man who made the state one of the
best jurists it ever had.  Judge Kauffman is a native of Pennsylvania, and was
born in 1861.  From the University of Pennsylvania in 1866 he took his LL. B.
degree, and the following year he located in Washington.  Settling in
ellensburg he first engaged in banking.  He was junior member of the firm of
Gilliam & Kauffman, later was seniot member of the lawfirm of Kauffman &
Frost.  In 1908 he went on the Kittitas County Superior bench, and was elected
to that office twice afterwards, serving in all about ten years.  Judge
Kauffman, while on the Superior bench, had many important pieces of litigation
to come before him, and in each instance he was as prompt in giving it
attention as was consistent with the law to do so.  There were several
instances where matters in his court were without precedent for guidance and
Judge Kauffman was compelled literally to peoneer the law.  How closely he
interpreted the law in that connection is evidenced by his being almost
universally sustained by the higher courts.  His decisions and rulings were
prompt and no time was lost in handling of trials.  His opinions carried much
weight with the entire state bar, and no man stands higher in the respect and
esteem of his colleagues than Judge Kauffman.  A man of high intellectual
training and broad vision he has attained a measure of success in his
profession that is well founded.  Judge Kauffman, in 1888, married Miss Lida
Stayman, and they have two children, twin daughters.  Judge Kauffman is a
member of the county, state and national bar association.

Submitted by: Judy Bivens

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.