Political Quotes

“I come to the floor today to introduce a piece of legislation honoring a great Alaskan. James Martin Fitzgerald was a giant of my State's judicial community for 5 decades--almost as long as Alaska has been a State. This legislation, naming the Anchorage federal courthouse facility in Judge Fitzgerald's honor, is a fitting tribute to his legacy. James Fitzgerald first came to Alaska in the 1950s. He was a decorated World War II Marine veteran, an accomplished lawyer, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and became Alaska's first Commissioner of Public Safety. From November 1959 until his retirement until 2006, he served with distinction as a State and Federal judge unanimously praised for his fairness, brilliance and humility. Judge Fitzgerald served as a judge on the Alaska Superior Court, Third District, from 1959 through 1972. He was the presiding judge on that court from 1969 through 1972. At that time, he became an Alaska Supreme Court Justice, where he would serve until 1975. President Gerald Ford nominated Judge Fitzgerald to be a Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska in December of 1974. He was quickly confirmed by the U.S. Senate and received his commission to the Federal bench. Judge Fitzgerald served on this Federal court until his retirement in 2006 and also spent 5 years as the chief judge of the court.…”