Charles Russell Donaldson (February 2, 1919 – October 9, 1987) was an American attorney and jurist who served as a justice of the Idaho Supreme Court for more than eighteen years, including the last four years as chief justice.
Before his election to the state supreme court, Donaldson was appointed as a district judge in Ada County.
[7] In 1983, Donaldson became the first chief justice to be elected by his peers,[1] and was often the swing vote on the court.
[8] In 1987, he suffered a heart attack during a routine early afternoon workout and died shortly after at age 68.
Donaldson was the first justice of the state's high court to die in office in 28 years, since James Porter in 1959.