[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO JUDGE KING OF FLORIDA

 Mr. GRAHAM. The State of Florida has produced some of the 
finest legal minds in America's judicial system. The personification of 
that standard of excellence is U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King 
of Miami.
  As a native of the Miami community, I am honored to be part of the 
effort to name the Federal justice building in Miami, FL, for Judge 
King.
  Judge King's distinguished tenure on the bench has spanned four 
decades, during which our judicial system has faced some of the most 
challenging disputes in the history of our Nation.
  In 1964 Mr. King was appointed circuit judge for the 11th Judicial 
Circuit of Florida. In 1970, President Nixon appointed Judge King as a 
U.S. district judge for the Southern District of Florida. In 1984, he 
became chief judge of the U.S. district court for the Southern District 
of Florida. During his outstanding career, Judge King has had more than 
200 published opinions.
  In addition to his contributions to our judicial system from the 
bench, Judge King has been an effective advocate for improved judicial 
administration. Judge King served as 1 of 23 members on the Judicial 
Conference of the United States. He was also a member of the Judicial 
Counsel of the 11th Circuit Administrative Conference, the Judicial 
Ethics Committee and the Long Range Planning Committee for the Federal 
Judiciary, serving all with distinction.
  While fulfilling his duties, Judge King foresaw the need for new 
courtroom and administrative facilities to accommodate the growing 
needs of the district and the law enforcement community. He began 
contacting community leaders to share his vision. After years of 
tireless effort, Judge King's vision became a reality.
  The Federal justice building was built by the city of Miami with city 
bonds backed by a long-term lease from the General Services 
Administration. Today, this state-of-the-art facility houses the U.S. 
attorneys' office and will be home to six district judges, an 11th 
circuit judge and complete trial and appellate courts.
  While many community leaders worked to complete the Federal justice 
building, Judge King was the guiding force behind its creation. This 
building should be named as a tribute to Judge King for his vision, 
leadership and effective stewardship of justice.

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