Thank you to John and the Federal Bar Association for these wonderful portrait posts. I really enjoy them. This week we have my old boss, Chief Judge Edward B. Davis. I wanted to say a few words about this giant of a man – both literally and figuratively. Judge Davis was the ideal judge. I have so many great stories about him from my clerkship back in 1997.
The first Friday of my clerkship, around 4:30pm, he asked me to get the other clerks and to pour everyone a drink. He gestured to the cabinet. We sat around and had scotch and discussed the first week. Hard to describe the moment of sitting with your boss, drinking scotch, and discussing the law and cases.
I remember the Frank Quintero trial and Frank walking out the door. Judge Davis was happy for him.
I remember driving Judge Davis in his huge Cadillac to Fort Pierce and him telling me to “step on it, son.”
I remember watching Dick Gregorie try a case against Hugo Rodriguez and Hector Flores and watching Judge Davis turn his chair around and laugh when there was some pushing and pulling of a big poster board during opening.
But the thing that sticks with me the most is how he treated everyone – lawyers, litigants, defendants, staff – the same. With humility and respect. And humor. The absolute best.
After seeing how some of our judges treat lawyers and their clients these days, we really need more like Judge Davis.
***FBA Post Below***
Judge Davis was nominated to the district court by President Carter in 1979; he served on the court until 2000. In his youth, Judge Davis achieved athletic excellence in baseball, basketball, and football, earning the nickname “Boomer.” He signed with the Detroit Tigers out of high school, but his professional baseball career ended as a result of two years’ service in the U.S. Army, where he served in the Korean War. On the bench, Judge Davis was known for treating all who came before him with respect. Described as “selfless, compassionate, caring, bright and kind,” Judge Davis left a legacy of service and excellence.
7 comments:
Very refreshing to see these biographies of judges who were cut from a different cloth. Wartime experience was common for many judges and gave them a different perspective on life. Ditto for athletics. Keep them coming. While on the topic, I am old enough to remember Byron White, a former All American football player at Colorado who played for the Steelers and Lions. And, oh yeah, he also served 30+ years on the Supreme Court!
None better.
Great memories. We shared Heat tickets at the original arena. A great jurist and wonderful gentleman.
They didn’t come any nicer or better. And totally within character for him to be happy Frankie Q was acquitted. And it was well deserved.
As a lawyer you were always thrilled when your case was assigned to Judge Davis. As a colleague he became my best friend on the court, but he was every judge’s best friend. As a chief judge he would win over his brethren with his smile. I still
miss his happy hours in chambers with Judge Spellman , our great lunches, and when he would continue to refer to me as “ my son” when advising me on what to do or more importantly what not to do.
Court appointed on a bank robbery case and I call my client’s mother. She is Bahamian. She takes the stand and the jury is out of the room and Judge Davis leans over and begins asking her where she is from and starts a normal conversation during which he finds a few things in common they share. He made her feel so welcome and calmed her down. It was my first trial before him and I sat and watched amazed. You don’t see that anymore. Just before the Jury came in he leaned over and told her to relax and that she was going to do just fine. What a decent man he was!
I remember answering the phone for the Clerk (Carlos Juenke) and it was an irate Judge who wanted an explanation about a FaxBack issue. I got the answer, but when I tried to call the Judge back to explain, the Judge was not happy. I was a fairly new employee and was sure I would be fired because a Judge yelled at me. I called Chief Judge Davis and he said to come see him. Through tears I relayed what transpired He got up from his desk, walked to me and gave me a big hug and told me not to worry. 30+ years later I still remember his caring nature. He was a true gentleman.
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