[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S2246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BEGICH (for himself and Ms. Murkowski):
  S. 2251. A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 
709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska, as the Robert Boochever 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. Robert Boochever was a 
giant of my state's judicial community for over 60 years--even longer 
than Alaska has been a State. This legislation, naming the Juneau 
Federal courthouse facility in Judge Boochever's honor, is a fitting 
tribute to his legacy.
  Robert Boochever first came to Alaska in the 1946, after having 
fought in World War II as a Captain in the U.S. Army. In territorial 
Alaska, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for two years, before joining 
a private practice in Juneau for almost 25 years, and was before long, 
one of the most respected lawyers in the state. He served as President 
of the Juneau Bar Association and the Alaska Bar Association.
  In 1972, Governor Egan tapped Boochever to serve as an Associate 
Justice on the Alaska Supreme Court. He served on the court for eight 
years, three of which he had the honor of being the fourth ever Chief 
Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court.
  President Jimmy Carter nominated Judge Boochever to be a Judge of the 
United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on May 22, 
1980. He was quickly confirmed by the U.S. Senate and received his 
commission to the Federal bench about a month later. This made Judge 
Boochever the first ever Alaskan to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit, a 
court he would serve on for the next thirty years.
  Judge Boochever is well known for his commitment to the city and the 
people of Juneau. He lived in Juneau and maintained an office there for 
most of his life. Even when he moved to California in his later years 
to facilitate travel and communications, he still maintained his Juneau 
office and returned to it every year with his clerks.
  In addition to his impressive record of accomplishments and his years 
of public service, Judge Boochever was known for his love and 
commitment for the law. He is well known as a tireless advocate for the 
rights of the disadvantaged and for his strong commitment to protecting 
individual freedoms and First Amendment rights.
  Naming the Juneau Federal courthouse facility in Judge Boochever's 
honor is broadly supported by Alaskans and so appropriate because he 
kept his chambers there for many years. In fact, this effort has the 
support of the Juneau Bar Association, the Alaska Bar Association's 
Historians Committee, the Mayor of Juneau, and many of its residents.
  For all these reasons, today I am proud to introduce this legislation 
to designate the United States Courthouse in Juneau as the Robert 
Boochever 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 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. 2251

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

     SECTION 1. ROBERT BOOCHEVER UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE.

       (a) Designation.--The United States courthouse located at 
     709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Robert Boochever United States 
     Courthouse''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     United States courthouse referred to in subsection (a) shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``Robert Boochever United 
     States Courthouse''.
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