[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S61-S62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO BILL CUNNINGHAM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on February 1, the Kentucky Supreme

[[Page S62]]

Court will bid farewell to a towering figure in our State's judiciary, 
Justice Bill Cunningham. A Lyon County native, Bill announced he would 
retire from the high court at the beginning of next month, bringing to 
a close a career of public service that has spanned more than half of 
his life. I would like to take a moment to join his colleagues, his 
family, and his community in western Kentucky in congratulating Bill on 
this remarkable milestone and to thank him for his service to the 
Commonwealth.
  Bill first answered the call to service early in his life. Once he 
graduated from Murray State University and the University of Kentucky 
College of Law, Bill enlisted in the Army, nobly serving our Nation in 
uniform in Vietnam, Korea, and Germany. Upon his return to Kentucky, 
Bill decided to put his legal education to work for the men and women 
of his community. For the last 45 years, he has done just that.
  Working in various courtrooms as the Eddyville City attorney, public 
defender for the Kentucky State Penitentiary, and the 56th judicial 
district's Commonwealth's attorney, Bill earned the esteem of his 
colleagues. In fact, his peers voted him the ``Outstanding 
Commonwealth's Attorney for Kentucky.''
  Beginning in 1991, Bill moved to the other side of the bench when he 
was first elected as a circuit court judge in western Kentucky, serving 
in Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon, and Trigg Counties. He was then elected 
to the Kentucky Supreme Court in 2006. On the high court, Bill 
represents 24 counties in western Kentucky. His constituents rewarded 
Bill's accomplished service by reelecting him to a second term in 2014.
  In addition to his dedicated leadership in our Commonwealth's legal 
system, Bill has written six books on Kentucky history and is a 
frequent contributor to local newspapers. He is also known as a 
captivating speaker, and I hope he will continue to share his 
perspective with audiences even in retirement.
  As Bill's tenure on the Kentucky Supreme Court comes to a close, I 
would like to express my sincere gratitude for his lifetime of service 
to his community, our Commonwealth, and our country. In retirement, 
Bill said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Paula, 
their five children, and their 15 grandchildren. I extend my best 
wishes to the entire Cunningham family, and I ask my Senate colleagues 
to help me congratulate Justice Bill Cunningham for his service to 
Kentucky.
  Mr. President, the Paducah Sun recently published a column 
congratulating Bill on his retirement. I ask unanimous consent that the 
article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From the Paducah Sun, Dec. 30, 2018]

                             Justice Served

                           (By Joshua Robert)

       Often loquacious and poignant, Kentucky Supreme Court 
     Justice Bill Cunningham struggled Thursday to find the right 
     words summarizing the coming sunset to his career, emotion 
     seeping through his typically laid-back demeanor.
       ``I'm just very grateful--I'm trying to say this without 
     getting choked up here--to the Almighty for giving me the 
     strength to (serve the public),'' the justice told a Sun 
     reporter. ``I'm so grateful for the people of west Kentucky 
     for giving me this wonderful opportunity.''
       That Cunningham, a state Supreme Court justice for 12 
     years, paired his deity with the residents of his native and 
     beloved western Kentucky is not surprising, nor is the 
     affection one-way.
       The judge, folksy and often dressed in his trademark 
     seersucker suit, cuts a popular figure. An accomplished 
     jurist, engaging orator and celebrated author, Cunningham is 
     as Kentucky as they come, though in our opinion, uncommon in 
     the commonwealth.
       Cunningham, 74, of Kuttawa, announced Thursday that he'll 
     be leaving the Supreme Court on Feb. 1, ending a career in 
     public service that's spanned more than half his life. He 
     considered his exit from the high court for more than a year 
     and was unsettled by the prospect of leaving halfway through 
     his second term.
       But the ``constant bombardment of human woe and suffering'' 
     he's seen and heard from the bench proved too much to 
     continue. The judge, who felt compelled by duty, did what 
     good judges are supposed to--he cast aside personal feelings 
     to make the wisest decision possible, his self-assessment 
     unsparing that he's not at his best.
       ``You've got to be emotionally strong to continue,'' 
     Cunningham said, ``and I'm just worn out with it.''
       The judge said he doesn't know what he'll do next, but 
     it'll be something of service to the people of western 
     Kentucky.
       ``I'm going to stay engaged,'' he said. ``I'm going to take 
     a couple of months off to get my perspective, then I'm going 
     to do what other people do when they're out of a job--I'm 
     going to look for one.''
       ``I'd like to be able to serve in some capacity. I just 
     don't know what that is right now.''
       Running again for public office, like for a state 
     legislative seat, is unlikely. ``I'm a dinosaur, and much of 
     the political mainstream today has passed me by,'' he said in 
     his self-effacing manner.
       We've gotten to know Cunningham over the years, covering 
     the justice's speeches and appearances and publishing his 
     thoughtful, well-written guest opinion pieces from time to 
     time. If we're coming off as an admirer, it's because we are, 
     unapologetically so.
       We've found Justice Cunningham has admirable traits like 
     modesty, kindness, intelligence, fairness and loyalty, rare 
     virtues among today's public servants. His replacement will 
     come from one of the 24 counties within the First Supreme 
     Court District, but in truth, it'll be impossible to replace 
     Cunningham and all he has meant to our communities.
       ``There's some great timber out there, so they'll probably 
     get a better justice than what they have now,'' he said of 
     the judicial nominating process. With respect to the judge, 
     that's a dubious claim.
       Cunningham is slated to be the guest speaker Feb. 5 during 
     a Paducah Lions Club meeting at Walker Hall.
       ``I'll be a former judge by then, so that's if they don't 
     cancel the invitation,'' he joked.
       We have no doubt the invitation's still good and his speech 
     will be captivating, as always. After all, jobs and titles 
     may change, but character doesn't.

     

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