[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5435-5436]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              SANTIAGO E. CAMPOS UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 544) to designate the United States courthouse at South 
Federal Place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the ``Santiago E. Campos 
United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 544

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States courthouse at South Federal Place in 
     Santa Fe, New Mexico, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Santiago E. Campos United States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. 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 section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Santiago E. Campos United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Graves) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material concerning H.R. 544.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in the 107th, 108th and 109th Congresses, Congressman 
Tom Udall introduced legislation to designate the Federal courthouse in 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the Santiago E. Campos United States 
Courthouse. No action was taken during the past Congress. Therefore, it 
is with great pleasure that the 110th Congress finally moves forward 
with this bill to honor an outstanding American.
  Judge Campos was a life-long resident of the United States and 
graduated first in his class from the University of New Mexico. He 
served the people of New Mexico and his country with honor and great 
distinction. He was a World War II veteran, serving the United States 
Navy as a seamen first class from 1944 to 1946. After leaving the Navy, 
Judge Campos attended the Central College in Fayette, Missouri, and 
received his law degree from the University of New Mexico in 1953, 
graduating first in his class again. From 1954 to 1957, he worked as an 
assistant attorney general and subsequently as first assistant attorney 
general for the State of New Mexico. After 14 years in private 
practice, Judge Campos was elected district judge for the First 
Judicial District of New Mexico in 1971 and served in that capacity 
until 1978.
  President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the Federal bench in 1978. 
Judge Campos was the first Hispanic appointed to the Federal bench in 
New Mexico. He served as chief judge from 1987 until 1989. Known for 
his compassion, quick wit and inquisitive mind, Judge Campos was a role 
model for students, fellow jurists and professional colleagues. He was 
well liked among peers and judicial staff as well.
  I strongly support Congressman Udall and his efforts on behalf of 
this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join in support of H.R. 544.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I would yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 544, introduced by Representative Udall of New 
Mexico, designates the United States courthouse at South Federal Place 
in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the Santiago E. Campos United States 
Courthouse. The bill honors Judge Campos, who was the first Hispanic to 
be appointed to the U.S. District Court of New Mexico.
  Judge Campos served in the United States Navy during World War II and 
graduated first in his law class at the University of New Mexico. His 
career in public service included serving as the assistant and first 
assistant attorney general in New Mexico, and serving as a district 
court judge in New Mexico's First Judicial District, and culminated in 
his appointment to the Federal bench.
  Judge Campos was appointed by President Carter in 1978 to the 
District Court of New Mexico. He served as chief judge from 1987 to 
1989 and became a senior judge on December 26, 1992. He served with 
distinction on the bench, and on January 20, 2001, Judge Campos passed 
away.
  I support this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman. And I concur and strongly support 
this legislation as well.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 544, a 
bill to designate the United States Courthouse at South Federal Place, 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the ``Santiago E. Campos United States 
Courthouse''.
  I commend the Gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for his steadfast 
support of this bill to honor an outstanding jurist.
  Mr. Udall introduced identical legislation in three previous 
Congresses--H.R. 5083 in the 107th Congress, H.R. 2274 in the 108th 
Congress, and H.R. 984 in the 109th Congress. Regrettably, the House 
never considered those bills. I am pleased that we are moving forward 
on this legislation today.
  Santiago E. Campos was born on December 25, 1926, in Santa Rosa, New 
Mexico. He served in the United States Navy as a Seaman 1st Class from 
1944 to 1946. After leaving the Navy, Judge Campos attended Central 
College in Fayette, Missouri, and received his law degree from the 
University of New Mexico in 1953, graduating first in his class.
  From 1954 until 1957, he worked as an Assistant Attorney General and 
subsequently as First Assistant Attorney General for the State of New 
Mexico. After 14 years in private practice, Judge Campos was elected 
District Judge for the 1st Judicial District of New Mexico in 1971, and 
served in that capacity until 1978. In 1978, Judge Campos was appointed 
to the Federal Bench by President Jimmy Carter and began serving on 
July 20, 1978.
  Judge Campos was the first Hispanic American to serve as a Federal 
Judge in the District Court of New Mexico, as well as the first

[[Page 5436]]

Hispanic American to serve as its Chief Judge. He held the title of 
Chief U.S. District Judge from February 5, 1987, to December 31, 1989, 
and took senior status on December 26, 1992. Judge Campos died on 
January 20, 2002, after suffering a long bout with cancer.
  During his career, Judge Campos was named an honorary member of the 
Order of the Coif. He also received the Distinguished Achievement Award 
of the State Bar of New Mexico in 1993, and in the same year the 
University of New Mexico honored him with a Distinguished Achievement 
Award.
  H.R. 544 has received the unanimous endorsement of the Judges of the 
10th Circuit Court in New Mexico and the district judges of the 
District of New Mexico.
  In honor of Judge Campos's trailblazing legal career in New Mexico 
and his outstanding contributions to the legal profession, it is both 
fitting and proper to designate the courthouse located at South Federal 
Place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the ``Santiago E. Campos United 
States Courthouse''.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 544.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, it brings me great pleasure to 
rise today in support of H.R. 544, legislation I introduced to honor 
Judge Santiago Campos by naming after him the Federal courthouse in 
Santa Fe, New Mexico. Judge Campos was the first Hispanic appointed to 
the Federal bench in New Mexico, and naming this building after him is 
a long overdue tribute.
  Judge Campos passed away on January 20, 2001 at the age of 75 years 
old. He was a lifelong New Mexican and graduated first in his law 
school class at the University of New Mexico. He was appointed to the 
Federal bench in 1978, serving until his death in 2001, including as 
chief judge from 1987 through 1989.
  But Judge Campos' career of public service only culminated with his 
service as a United States District Court Judge. He also served in the 
United States Navy as a seaman first class. He served as the assistant 
and first assistant attorney general of New Mexico. And before being 
named to the Federal bench, he served as a district court judge in the 
first judicial district in the State of New Mexico.
  Judge Campos served with distinction on the bench and displayed both 
firmness and compassion with those who entered his courtroom. He was 
very active during cases, often exercising his right to question 
witnesses in the middle of cross-examinations. Many agree that he 
became more involved in a case than other judges, but still let a 
lawyer try his own case. One of his most memorable cases ordered the 
Gannett Co. to return The New Mexican, Santa Fe's daily newspaper, to 
its former owner, Robert McKinney, due to a breach of contract.
  Naming the Federal courthouse after Judge Campos is all the more 
fitting because of his role in transforming the U.S. Courthouse into 
the beautiful active place it is today. Judge Campos had a grand vision 
for the Santa Fe courthouse that, through his hard work, was realized 
during his lifetime. He was remembered for being very hands-on during 
the remodeling process, often seen climbing through the rubble of the 
construction area with a hammer in hand, questioning the contractor, 
and pitching in with the construction workers. As Judge Campos' former 
secretary, Yolanda Salazar, put it, ``He was the moving force in 
reviving the Federal courthouse in Santa Fe and restoring it as a 
hallmark of justice with the respect it merits.''
  There are many individuals throughout New Mexico who are eager to see 
this legislation passed and the courthouse named after Judge Campos. He 
was a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration to countless New Mexicans 
and his spirit lives on at the U.S. Courthouse in Santa Fe. To again 
quote Yolanda Salazar, she said, ``I will forever look upon this 
courthouse as `his courthouse.' '' Passing this legislation will ensure 
that those who look upon the courthouse will remember it as Judge 
Campos' courthouse as well.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 544.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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