[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO JUDGE RICHARD MATSCH

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, as my colleagues know, the Oklahoma City 
bombing trial of Timothy McVeigh has concluded in Denver. The jury 
found McVeigh guilty on all 11 counts against him, and he has been 
sentenced to death.
  Now that these proceedings are over, I take this opportunity to call 
to the attention of my colleagues the outstanding service of Chief 
Judge Richard Matsch who presided over the Oklahoma City bombing trial 
at a time when many of us here in this body are considering the 
appointment process for Federal judges. His leadership has provided 
many Americans a renewed faith in the judicial process. His example of 
fair, firm leadership is an outstanding model we should consider for 
future Federal judicial appointments.
  Many members of the legal profession and the media predicted that the 
Oklahoma City bombing trial would last 4 months. Under Judge Matsch's 
calm, competent direction, the trial concluded in only 2 months.
  Judge Matsch has an impressive legal career. He was associate editor 
of the law review at the University of Michigan School of Law. After 
law school, he joined the U.S. Army and became an intelligence officer. 
When he left the Army, he moved to Denver where he was in private 
practice. Judge Matsch went on to become a city attorney, a Federal 
prosecutor, and a bankruptcy judge before President Nixon nominated him 
to the Federal bench in 1974. In 1994 he was elevated to chief judge.
  Judge Richard Matsch has earned the admiration of his colleagues and 
lawyers who have appeared before him. Lawyers and colleagues from the 
bench praised the choice of Matsch to preside over the trial noting 
that he has the appropriate judicial temperament. One attorney who has 
argued before him said poetically, Judge Matsch ``is better than indoor 
plumbing.''
  In light of the skillful and professional way Judge Matsch handled 
the proceedings of the McVeigh trial, I urge my colleagues to join me 
in recognizing the contributions of Judge Matsch to our justice system 
and commending him for his firm, swift justice in such a tragic case. 
He has touched the lives of many Americans with his outstanding 
service, and has renewed the faith in all of us that justice can be 
served.
  I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.

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