[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16618-16619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    PUBLIC DEFENDER JOHN J. HARDIMAN

  Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to John Hardiman, 
public defender for the State of Rhode Island, who passed away several 
days ago.
  John was, frankly, the finest public servant I have ever seen in my 
entire career, as a soldier, as an elected official. I have never 
encountered anyone with the dedication, decency, and the determination 
of John Hardiman. He literally devoted his life to the office of public 
defender in the State of Rhode Island.
  He graduated from law school in 1982. He started as a staff attorney 
there, worked his way up to the head of trial division, and then became 
the public defender for the entire State of Rhode Island.
  His life was devoted to the law. Quietly, persistently, with 
diligence, dedication, and decency, he sought to do justice--justice 
not to the powerful or privileged but for the powerless. Indeed, in 
many cases, his clients were not only notorious; they were infamous. 
But John knew the test of our ideals, the test of our legal system, and 
of our constitutional form of government was that the laws would not 
simply protect the powerful and privileged, but that they protect all 
Americans.
  Above the entrance of the U.S. Supreme Court are the words ``Equal 
Justice Under Law.'' For many people, even lawyers, those are just 
words. For John Hardiman, it was his life's vocation, and he made real 
those words in the lives of every Rhode Islander.
  John was a tenacious advocate, but he was always a remarkably modest

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and decent man. His legal skills rested on a foundation of 
unimpeachable integrity and decency. He dedicated his life to serving 
others. In that advocation and vocation, he was following the example 
of his father, Dr. James Hardiman, and his mother. They left John a 
shining example of compassion and concern, a generous spirit, and a 
humble heart. All his brothers and sisters follow that same example as 
they, too, in their lives served others.
  I had the privilege of growing up with John. He was one of the little 
kids in school, about 5 years younger, but he always had the 
reputation--entirely justified--of being a good kid. Where I come from, 
being a good kid was the highest form of praise. That good kid turned 
out to be an extraordinary man, advocate, and public servant. This is a 
poignant moment for me because I recall the many times I saw him 
throughout his life and my life, as a young student in grammar school, 
as an athlete similar to his brothers, as a lawyer, as a public 
defender, as a public servant. He was someone whom you were always glad 
to see, and those types of individuals are rare and precious, indeed.
  John's passing diminishes all of us, especially his family. But his 
life has touched the lives of every Rhode Islander. Many will never 
recognize what he has done. But in standing for justice and for the 
rule of law and for the rights of those who are in the shadows, he 
stood for all of us, nobly, decently, with a proud spirit but a gentle 
spirit also. We have all been diminished, but what he has done for us 
has made us stronger and better and more ready to go on to take up his 
work. His example will sustain us and inspire us as we go forward, as 
we try to finish his noble work.
  I wish to especially extend my condolences to his children, Elizabeth 
and Emmett, and to all his family. Rhode Island has lost an 
extraordinary public servant, an extraordinary gentleman. But we are 
better for having known him, we are better for having him serve us so 
well, so courageously, so decently.
  I yield the floor, and I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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