[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 92 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF JUDGE WILEY DANIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 3, 2019

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
achievements of Judge Wiley Daniel, the first African American judge 
appointed to the U.S. District Court for Colorado, who recently passed 
away on Friday, May 10, 2019.
  Judge Daniel was born in 1946 in Louisville, Kentucky and received 
his undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University in Washington, 
D.C. He spent six years in private practice in Detroit before moving to 
Denver in 1977 where he practiced law for 24 years with a specialty in 
civil litigation.
  In 1992, he rose to be the first--and only--African American 
president of the Colorado Bar Association. Three years later, President 
Bill Clinton appointed Mr. Daniel to the U.S. District Court for 
Colorado, becoming the first African American federal judge in the 
state. Thirteen years after Judge Daniel took the bench, he became 
chief judge of the court.
  Judge Daniel served admirably both inside and outside of the 
courtroom. He served as President of the Federal Judges Association, a 
national organization that supports hundreds of federal judges. He also 
taught courses in trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at the 
University of Colorado Law School and the University of Denver Sturm 
College of Law, where he mentored students. Additionally, from 1998 to 
2003, Judge Daniel was a Trustee of the American Inns of Court 
Foundation, an organization which advocates for professionalism, 
ethics, civility and excellence throughout the legal profession. Until 
his final days, Judge Daniel was active in his church--Park Hill United 
Methodist in north Denver--where he served as a Deacon, sang in the 
choir and mentored young members.
  Judge Daniel believed that racial and gender diversity in the 
judiciary is important. Accordingly, he was active in the Delta Eta 
Boule fraternity, the nation's first African American professional 
organization. In fact, one of Daniel's passions was the fraternity's 
scholarship program, which helps young, bright African American 
students in the metro Denver area attend college.
  Judge Daniel retired in 2013 but continued to hear cases and guide 
younger lawyers. Not surprisingly, Judge Daniel's distinguished legal 
career and dedication to the community has been recognized many times 
with numerous awards and accolades. In 2006, Judge Daniel was honored 
with the American Inns of Court Foundation Professionalism Award for 
the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2012, he was inducted to the 
Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame due to his pioneering professional 
achievements. In 2013, Judge Daniel was awarded the King Trimble 
Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sam Cary Bar Association. In 2015, 
Judge Daniel was selected as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement 
Award by the Center for Legal Inclusiveness in recognition of his 
lifelong commitment to diversity and inclusiveness within the legal 
profession. Finally, in 2018, the National Black Prosecutors 
Association presented Daniel with the Trailblazer Award.
  On May 10, 2019, at the age of 72, Judge Wiley Daniel passed away. He 
was one of the trailblazing Coloradoans whose hands have shaped the 
United States into the great nation it is today. He was principled, 
pragmatic, well-respected and beloved. That is why his legacy will live 
on for many decades to come.
  My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, the Denver law 
community and all Coloradoans who mourn this terrible loss.

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