[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 112 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     FEDERAL JUDGE NORMAN W. BLACK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 1997

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise before the House today 
to duly recognize the lifelong service and contribution of a great 
American, the Honorable Norman W. Black. Judge Black will be remembered 
as one of the few magistrates that ever graced the Federal bench to be 
as revered for his humanistic concern for his fellow man as he was for 
his legal acumen. It is this kind of exemplary strength of character 
that reminds us of how amazing we human beings can truly be at our very 
best. For all of you who did not ever have the pleasure of sharing his 
company, studying his work, or admiring his brilliance, I want to 
assure you that Norman Black was one of our very best.
  More than just a judge, Norman Black was a caring husband, an 
attentive and doting father, the best friend of his loving 
granddaughter, and the model of the noble adjudicator, who treated all 
persons to stand before his court with unfailing civility and 
unconditional respect. It is this ability, to separate the case and its 
facts from the humanity of the people entangled within it that to me is 
most remarkable. In life, it is often difficult to not allow 
circumstances to predetermine our disposition on a myriad of issues, 
but Judge Black always allowed justice to have the final say. One of 
Judge Black's associate judges on the Southern District of Texas' bench 
said that he was ``one of the most well-liked jurists on the Federal 
bench, always even-tempered and courteous to all attorneys.''
  This ability to maintain a consistent posture of fairness, publicly 
recognized by both his peers and Presidents alike, seems to be the 
clear reason why President Carter appointed Judge Black to the Federal 
bench in the Southern District of Texas in 1979. Judge Black was 
regularly given the highest ratings in local bar association 
evaluations, was amazingly as popular as he was effective. Judge Black, 
who served as chief judge of the southern district until his recent 
mandatory retirement, remained to the very day of his passing an active 
judicial advocate for the rights of the citizens to enter the doors of 
his court, and Americans everywhere.
  So on behalf of the entire 18th Congressional District, the city of 
Houston, and our Nation, I want to give our deepest condolences to 
Judge Black's loving wife, Berne, his two daughters, Elizabeth and 
Diane, and his very special granddaughter. I am deeply saddened by this 
loss, and know that we will surely not be privileged enough to see his 
like again.

                          ____________________