Warren Dee Welliver (February 24, 1920 – October 29, 2007) was judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1979 until 1989. As a judge, he established Comparative Negligence as a defense in civil tort lawsuits, overruling the older Contributory Negligence standard.Allison Retka, "Ex-Missouri Supreme Court judge Warren Welliver dies at 87." Kansas City Daily Record. November 1, 2007. Judge Welliver was also famously passed up for Chief Justice; traditionally the judges take turns in the two-year job but Welliver was bypassed for the position. Judge Welliver was also known for his strong stances in favor of protecting a criminal defendant's rights at trial,"Law and order court appointee viewed as hard liner." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 1B. October 15, 1989. and his opposition to the Missouri Plan.Allison Retka, "Ex-Missouri Supreme Court judge Warren Welliver dies at 87." St. Louis Daily Record. November 1, 2007
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