Federal judge, 103, still hearing federal cases

[Kadie]

Federal judge, 103, still hearing federal cases
By ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press

Sunday, April 10, 2011


(04-10) 10:58 PDT Wichita, Kan. (AP) --

In a courtroom in Wichita, the day begins much as it has for the past 49 years: Court is in session, U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown presiding. But what happens next is no longer routine; it's a testament to one man's sheer determination.

As lawyers and litigants wait in respectful silence, Brown, who is 103, carefully steers his power wheelchair behind the bench, his stooped frame almost disappearing behind its wooden bulk. He adjusts under his nose the plastic tubes from the oxygen tank lying next to the day's case documents. Then his voice rings out loud and firm to his law clerk, "Call your case."

Brown is the oldest working federal judge in the nation, one of four appointees by President Kennedy still on the bench. Federal judgeships are lifetime appointments, and no one has taken that term more seriously than Brown.

"As a federal judge, I was appointed for life or good behavior, whichever I lose first," Brown quipped in an interview. How does he plan to leave the post? "Feet first," he says.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/10/state/n100440D51.DTL#ixzz1J99zehn6

[Faygo Kid]

1. Wow.

That's an amazing story. What a life.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. I suppose it's better than working as a Wal-Mart greeter.

I have no real issues with this in particular, but it does annoy me that politicians want to raise retirement age with no idea what it may be like if you happen to be a worker who is required to do physical labor when one's body is worn out from a lifetime of physical labor.

[RKP5637]

3. Yeah, I could see a roofer working at 103. n/t

[frazzled]

5. See my post below

Federal judges get full salary for life at retirement. He could have retired 40 years ago: he just apparently likes being in his courtroom and working.

[frazzled]

4. What's most amazing about this ...

Is that he could have retired long ago, and comfortably. I learned this the other week talking to my husband's cousin, who is a federal judge. He is not enamored of his work and mentioned he'd like to retire in not too many years. I mentioned that we would have to work as long as humanly possible, for financial reasons, and asked how he could possibly do it, especially with one kid in college and another on the way to it. I knew judges don't earn very much (compared to attorneys in the field, especially with the kind of pedigree he has). He told me that he can retire with full salary for the rest of his life at age 60-something (less than 65, but I forget). It was the tradeoff he made for accepting the appointment during the Clinton administration.

I was totally envious.

Judge Brown must truly love his work, because he sure isn't doing it for the money. Congrats to him!!

[Kadie]

6. "I do it to be a public service," Brown said.

from the article,

"I do it to be a public service," Brown said. "You got to have a reason to live. As long as you perform a public service, you have a reason to live."

[bluestateguy]

8. I'm not against elderly people working

as long as it's really truly what they want to do out of love for their occupation or trade. And as long as they can still mentally and physically do the job.

Like a professor in her 80's who loves teaching and being a scholar. Or a family doctor who finds joy in taking care of people in the neighborhood.

What is tragic is when elderly people are forced to work because their company raided their pension, or politicians decided to destroy their public employee pension.

[Liberal Veteran]

9. +1 - That's my viewpoint as well.

When I hear politicians floating around the idea of raising retirement ages, my first thought is: That may be fine if you have a staff of assistants who do the majority of your "work" for you and can wheel you and your oxygen tank on to floor for a roll call vote, but if you are a roofer, carpenter, mechanic, brick mason, ditch digger, lineman, etc. 70 ain't the new 50, it's still 70.

[David__77]

11. I took an existentialism class from a professor in his mid-80s.

He was very good and you could tell he cared. I felt honored and slightly saddened that I was in his last class before retirement. When he didn't feel like lecturing, he would sometimes play tapes of himself lecturing (!) from back in the early 90s. I marveled at the hairstyles I could see on the students in those tapes lol... Seriously, I think there was nothing wrong with that. The elderly can make wonderful contributions and I welcome them!

[David__77]

13. Oh wow...

I had to look him up online after I thought about him - the professor, that is. Unfortunately he just died on 3/26/11. I guess he was only 82 - thought he was older. That saddens me greatly. But I am happy that he did what he loved in life.

[bluestateguy]

7. As long as he is still mentally and physically able to do the job

Then good for him.

[upi402]

10. Wow, I had no idea! Thanks. n/t

[47of74]

12. We need more judges, period

But it'll be a cold day in hell before Republicans put the good of this country ahead of themselves and allow the appointment of qualified people to the Federal bench.

[Libertas1776]

14. Hmm

at that age, I wonder if they're giving him serious cases or soft balls?
Like Abraham J. Simpson v. Chester J. Lampwick (1996)

Transcript of deposition:
Plaintiff Simpson: I gave you a plate of corn muffins in 1947 to paint my chicken coop, and you never did it!
Defendant Lampwick: Those corn muffins were lousy!
Simpson: Paint my chicken coop!
Lampwick: Make me!!

:rofl:

Naw, naw, but seriously, i jest, i jest. I think its amazing that this chap is still able to sit on the bench and carry out his duties. As long as all his marbles are in place, then more power to him!

I can only hope I'd still have all my marbles if I make it to half of his current age.