[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 153 (Thursday, October 13, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6513-S6514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BEGICH (for himself and Ms. Murkowski):
  S. 1710. A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 
222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, as the James M. Fitzgerald 
United States Courthouse; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to introduce a 
piece of legislation honoring a great Alaskan. James Martin Fitzgerald 
was a giant of my State's judicial community for 5 decades--almost as 
long as Alaska has been a State. This legislation, naming the Anchorage 
federal courthouse facility in Judge Fitzgerald's honor, is a fitting 
tribute to his legacy.
  James Fitzgerald first came to Alaska in the 1950s. He was a 
decorated World War II Marine veteran, an accomplished lawyer, an 
Assistant U.S. Attorney, and became Alaska's first Commissioner of 
Public Safety. From November 1959 until his retirement until 2006, he 
served with distinction as a State and Federal judge unanimously 
praised for his fairness, brilliance and humility.
  Judge Fitzgerald served as a judge on the Alaska Superior Court, 
Third District, from 1959 through 1972. He was the presiding judge on 
that court from 1969 through 1972. At that time, he became an Alaska 
Supreme Court Justice, where he would serve until 1975.
  President Gerald Ford nominated Judge Fitzgerald to be a Judge of the 
United States District Court for the District of Alaska in December of 
1974. He was quickly confirmed by the U.S. Senate and received his 
commission to the Federal bench. Judge Fitzgerald served on this 
Federal court until his retirement in 2006 and also spent 5 years as 
the chief judge of the court.
  In addition to his impressive record of accomplishments and his years 
of public service, Judge Fitzgerald was also known for his integrity 
and character. His colleagues on the bench, the lawyers who testified 
in his courtroom and his friends and neighbors all knew him to be a 
humble, kind, thoughtful and generous man. For decades he was praised 
for his legal brilliance and his respect for all those who sought 
justice in his court. His contributions to the State of Alaska will not 
be forgotten.
  Naming the Anchorage federal courthouse in Judge Fitzgerald's honor 
is broadly supported by Alaskans. In fact, I assembled a small 
committee of outstanding Alaska leaders to review this proposal and 
they strongly endorsed extending this honor to Judge Fitzgerald. I 
would like to thank the committee members for their public service: 
Anchorage attorney Lloyd Miller, Judge John D. Roberts, Juneau Mayor 
Bruce Botelho, and Liz Medicine Crow of the First Alaskans Institute.
  For all these reasons, today I am proud to introduce this legislation 
to designate the United States Courthouse in Anchorage as the James M. 
Fitzgerald United States Courthouse. He was a great man and this is a 
fine way to remember all he did for my State.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1710

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. JAMES M. FITZGERALD UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.

       (a) Designation.--The United States courthouse located at 
     222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``James M. Fitzgerald United States 
     Courthouse''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other

[[Page S6514]]

     record of the United States to the United States courthouse 
     referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``James M. Fitzgerald United States 
     Courthouse''.
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