[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S273-S274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Kyl):
  S. 188. A bill to designate the United States courthouse under 
construction at 98 West First Street, Yuma, Arizona, as the ``John M. 
Roll United States Courthouse''; to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I wish to introduce legislation to name 
the United States courthouse in Yuma, AZ, the John M. Roll United 
States Courthouse. Is that legislation at the desk?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The bill will be received.
  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I am pleased to introduce legislation, 
along with Senator Kyl, that would designate the soon-to-be-constructed 
Federal courthouse in Yuma, AZ, to be named in honor of Chief Judge 
John Roll, who died tragically during the senseless act of violence 
against Congresswoman Giffords and other Arizonans in Tucson earlier 
this month. I had the distinct privilege of knowing and working with 
Chief Judge Roll for many years. In fact, it was my honor to recommend 
him to President George Herbert Walker Bush for nomination to the 
Federal bench in 1991. He served with distinction. Most recently, Judge 
Roll became known by so many in the State of Arizona, the Judicial 
Conference, and many in Congress as a tireless advocate for the 
plaintiffs, defendants, and judges in Arizona by working to secure 
additional funding and resources to assist the court in its heavy 
caseload.
  The morning of the shooting, Judge Roll was in line to speak to 
Congresswoman Giffords, who was also a friend, about his efforts to 
have the Ninth Circuit declared a judicial emergency in the District of 
Arizona. He died doing what he did each and every day: working to 
guarantee the Federal courts in our State were capable of handling the 
growing caseload, while ensuring swift justice for all.
  Judge Roll exemplified the qualities all Presidents should seek in 
candidates for the Federal bench: intelligence, humility, integrity, 
and fidelity to the law. He embodied all these qualities and many more. 
Additionally, he was known as a kind neighbor, a dedicated father and 
husband, and a loyal friend. He will now be known also as a hero.
  The Arizona Daily Star reported on January 20, 2011:

       Surveillance footage of the January 8 shooting campaign in 
     Tucson showed that Judge Roll used his body as a shield to 
     cover the wounded Ron Barber. Roll then took a bullet to the 
     back and lost his life in the process.
       ``The judge is a hero,'' Pima County sheriff's Bureau Chief 
     Rick Kastigar said.

  The article states that the suspected gunman:

       . . . shot Barber, Giffords' district director. Almost 
     simultaneously, Roll moved Barber toward the ground and both 
     crawled beneath

[[Page S274]]

     a table, Kastigar said. Roll then got on top of Barber.
       ``Judge Roll is responsible for directing Mr. Barber out of 
     the line of fire and helped save his life,'' Kastigar said.

  Barber told the Arizona Daily Star:

       That just gives me more admiration for the judge than I 
     ever had. . . . John Roll was a dear, dear man.

  Barber and Judge Roll had been friends for many years, dating back to 
their days as college students at the University of Arizona. Most 
recently, they worked together with the Arizona congressional 
delegation to secure funding for a new Federal courthouse in Yuma, AZ, 
to alleviate the congestion at the Tucson Federal courthouse. In fact, 
Judge Roll had just reviewed the architectural drawings of the new 
courthouse weeks before his death and told my office he was very 
pleased with the design.
  It is the hope of myself and Senator Kyl and every Member of the 
Arizona delegation that the architectural designs will soon include the 
name of Chief Judge John Roll prominently on the building. This 
esteemed jurist, friend, and hero deserves this honor and much more. 
Our State has lost a good man, a true and able advocate for justice for 
all, and a great Arizonan. For this reason, I ask my fellow Senators to 
join me in passing this legislation to allow the new Yuma Federal 
courthouse to be proudly known as the John M. Roll United States 
Courthouse.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, my State has lost an outstanding jurist, a 
true and able public servant, and a great Arizonan in Judge John M. 
Roll. In his honor, my Arizona colleague, Senator McCain, and I propose 
naming the soon-to-be constructed Yuma Federal courthouse the ``Judge 
John M. Roll United States Courthouse.''
  Judge John Roll was the top proponent for the addition of a new 
courthouse in Yuma, which is intended to help deal with the vast number 
of Federal cases in the underserved Yuma sector. He was involved in 
nearly every aspect of its approval, working tirelessly to overcome the 
many obstacles that arose during the process and spending countless 
hours poring over designs and meeting with architects and contractors. 
Without Judge Roll's energy and enthusiasm the project may not have 
been accomplished.
  We name special places after special people not just to thank them, 
although we do, but to honor the qualities that make them exceptional 
and distinct.
  I had the privilege and honor of working with Judge John Roll for 
many years. He was known for his fairness to all who appeared in his 
courtroom, both plaintiffs and defendants. As chief judge, he was a 
vigorous advocate, working to guarantee the Federal courts in Arizona 
were capable of handing their extraordinary caseload. In fact, he died 
protecting the life of a member of Representative Gifford's staff with 
whom he had just been discussing the need to designate the need for 
more judges as a judicial emergency.
  We are eternally grateful for his many years of public service. I 
believe naming the courthouse in his honor befits the rich legacy he 
leaves behind.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation in honor of my 
friend Judge John Roll.
                                 ______