[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 117 (Wednesday, July 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S10324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO JUDGE MacKINNON

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise here today to pay tribute to Judge 
George Edward MacKinnon. Judge MacKinnon died at his home on May 1, 
1995, at the age of 89. In life, Judge MacKinnon was a model public 
servant, and in death, his work will be remembered and his efforts 
continued.
  Judge MacKinnon served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District 
of Columbia for 25 years. He was named to the appellate bench in 1969 
by President Nixon, where he served until shortly before his death. 
Judge MacKinnon was a dedicated jurist. He spent 6 years serving on the 
U.S. Sentencing Commission, contributing to the creation of the 
national uniform-sentencing laws for convicted criminal offenders.
  My own association with Judge MacKinnon stemmed from his work as 
presiding judge of the special court that oversees the independent 
counsel law. In the 7 years he presided over the three-member court, 
Judge MacKinnon was instrumental in the successful enforcement of the 
independent counsel law and helped establish its constitutionality.
  Equally important, the judge made the law work on a day-to-day basis, 
from setting up filing systems and getting a court clerk, to working 
out conflicts-of-interest for independent counsel and suggesting 
legislative improvements to the law. Judge MacKinnon ran the court 
efficiently and effectively. He worked with Congress in an open and 
constructive manner. In an age of political gamesmanship, he was a 
civil, bipartisan, and warm spirit. It was his evenhanded, commonsense 
approach which resulted in great public confidence and the ultimate 
success of the independent counsel law.
  Judge MacKinnon's career in public service did not begin with his 
1969 appointment to the bench. Prior to his term as a judge, he served 
as Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, U.S. attorney for the 
District of Minnesota, a Minnesota Representative in the U.S. House, 
and a Minnesota State representative.
  Judge MacKinnon is survived by his wife, Elizabeth MacKinnon; his 
daughter, Catharine MacKinnon, a noted professor of law at the 
University of Michigan; two sons, James and Leonard MacKinnon, both of 
Minneapolis; and four grandchildren.
  Judge MacKinnon devoted his entire career to public service. And his 
lifelong actions for the good of the American people will not be 
forgotten. It is with this in mind that I pay tribute to Judge George 
Edward MacKinnon and his family.


                          ____________________