[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            JAMES R. BROWNING U.S. COURT OF APPEALS BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 19, 2002

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2804, 
legislation to name the U.S. Court of Appeals Building at 7th and 
Mission Streets in San Francisco, the ``James R. Browning U.S. Court of 
Appeals Building''. I first want to commend my good friend and 
distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is the sponsor 
of this legislation.
  It is most appropriate that we name the 100-year-old San Francisco 
Federal Appeals Court building after Judge James R. Browning in 
recognition of his 40 years of distinguished service on the federal 
bench and his service for twelve years--from 1976 to 1988--as Chief 
Judge of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge Browning received his legal education at the 
University of Montana Law School, where he achieved the highest 
scholastic record in his class and served as editor-in-chief of the Law 
Review. After graduation in 1941 Judge Browning joined the Antitrust 
Division of the Department of Justice. Two years later, he answered his 
country's call and was inducted as a Private in the Army. He served in 
the Pacific Theater for three years, earning a Bronze Star. Upon his 
return to the United States, Judge Browning rejoined the Department of 
Justice, where he quickly rose to Chief of the Northwest Regional 
Office of the Antitrust Division, working out of the Seattle office. He 
was then called back to Washington, DC to become Assistant Chief of the 
General Litigation Section of the Antitrust Division.
  In 1951 Judge Browning moved from the Antitrust Division to the Civil 
Division of the Department of Justice, and shortly afterwards became 
Executive Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States. While 
in this position, he organized and was then appointed Chief of the 
Executive Office of United States Attorneys. In 1953 Judge Browning 
left the Department of Justice for private practice as a partner at 
Perlman, Lyons & Browning, but continued to lecture on Antitrust Law at 
both the New York University Law School and the Georgetown University 
Law Center.
  Mr. Speaker, after five years in private practice Judge Browning left 
private practice to become Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court. In this 
position he held the Bible at the time John F. Kennedy took the oath of 
office from Chief Justice Warren when he was sworn in as President in 
1961. He was the last Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court to perform this 
task. Since 1961, the Bible in all cases has been held by the spouse of 
the President-elect.
  It was President Kennedy who appointed Judge Browning to the Ninth 
Circuit Court of Appeals in 1961, where he has remained in service, for 
over forty years, the longest serving Justice in the history of the 
Ninth Circuit. Today he is the sole remaining Kennedy appointee serving 
on any court in the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, after serving on the court for 15 years, Judge Browning 
was elevated to Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit, which position he 
held from 1976 to 1988. During his time as Chief Judge, Judge Browning 
was an influential member of the Judicial Conference of the United 
States and an active participant in resolving major problems facing the 
federal judiciary. He has an impressive record of achievement in the 
Ninth Circuit. Despite calls to reduce the size of the Court, Judge 
Browning implemented reforms to increase the efficiency of the Court by 
increasing the number of judges in the Circuit, reducing the enormous 
backlog of pending case work, and halving the time needed to decide 
appeals.
  With a jurisdiction that includes all the federal courts in 
California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, 
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Judge Browning 
utilized computers and information technology to increase the speed and 
efficiency of the courts. This included creating a computerized case 
screening and processing system which allowed geographically disparate 
judges to maintain docket contract and avoid intra-circuit conflicts. 
Judge Browning also created three geographic administrative 
subdivisions headed by senior active judges within each region to 
decentralize decision-making and increase productivity.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge Browning emphasized the importance of collegiality 
and civility among judges on the Ninth Circuit, and encouraged the use 
of email, telephone conferences, symposia, conferences and other 
meetings to increase interpersonal contacts and mutual understanding 
among Ninth Circuit and District Court judges. With these steps, he 
succeeded in cutting in half the time needed to decide appeals and 
eliminating the case backlog at the same time that the circuit expanded 
in size.
  In recognition of his extraordinary service to the federal judiciary 
Judge Browning was the recipient of the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished 
Service to Justice Award in 1991, and the American Judicature Society's 
Herbert Harley Award in 1984.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that this legislation will name the San 
Francisco Federal Appeals Court building after Judge James R. Browning 
in recognition of 40 years of distinguished service on the federal 
bench. The building, currently unnamed, is simply known as the Old Post 
Office Building. It is very fitting that this building in which we 
uphold justice as enshrined in our constitution, be named after a 
distinguished jurist who has dedicated his life to upholding our system 
of justice.

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