March 20, 2002

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2804, which designates the United States courthouse located at 95 Seventh Street in San Francisco, California, as the “James R. Browning United States Courthouse.” Judge Browning has been an outstanding jurist and a brilliant administrator for the Ninth Circuit court for the past 40 years. By crafting creative solutions to a large case backlog and a slow appeals process, Judge Browning has improved our judicial system both in the Ninth Circuit, and everywhere his reforms have been emulated. I urge my colleagues to honor him today for his lifetime of service.

I would like to thank House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) for their efforts to bring this bill before this House. It would not have been possible without them. I am also pleased to note that this bill is strongly supported by a bipartisan group of Members from throughout the Ninth Circuit’s area of jurisdiction. The bill’s cosponsors and other supporters are still returning from the West Coast and are unable to join us, as they would like to, on the floor today.

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James R. Browning was born in Great Falls, Montana and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Montana. After graduation, he joined the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice where he worked for two years before being inducted into the U.S. Army Infantry as a private. Serving three years in the Pacific Theater in Military Intelligence, he attained the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded the Bronze Star.

After his military service, he returned to the Justice Department, serving in several positions in the Antitrust Division before becoming the Executive Assistant to the Attorney General. In 1953, he left government service for a successful career in private practice during which he lectured at the law schools of New York University and Georgetown University. His desire to be in public service was strong, however, and he left private practice after five years to become the Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed James Browning as a Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit includes all the federal courts in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. His exemplary tenure as a Circuit Judge was marked by his extensive involvement in the Judicial Conference of the United States. He examined issues of judicial conduct, court administration, and the reorganization of the Ninth Circuit.

Judge Browning became Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit in 1976. At that time, the appeals courts in particular faced a large backlog of cases, and substantial delays in deciding appeals were common. Judge Browning immediately undertook innovative steps to improve the functioning of the Ninth Circuit. He convinced Congress to add new judges to the Court of Appeals. He instituted new methods of case processing in order to manage the increased caseloads. He established a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel to hear bankruptcy appeals from the entire circuit. He revamped communication among the justices.

And his innovations worked. The restructuring he instituted paid rich dividends, including the elimination of the court’s backlog and a reduction by half in the time needed to decide appeals. His reforms have been examined and repeated throughout the nation.

Mr. Speaker, it has been said that justice deferred is justice denied. I ask my colleagues today to honor a man whose innovations have helped ensure that justice comes in time. James R. Browning has been an exceptionally able and dedicated public servant. I urge my colleagues to honor him today by voting for H.R. 2804, to designate the federal courthouse at Seventh and Mission Streets in San Francisco the “James R. Browning United States Courthouse.” Thank you.