Jerry Moran: “today, I want to honor the life and mourn the loss of Judge Frank Nebeker, who was not only the first judge of the Court…”

“today, I want to honor the life and mourn the loss of Judge Frank Nebeker, who was not only the first judge of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims but also the court's first chief judge. In Kansas, we know the value of community and helping others, and Judge Nebeker took these traits to heart as a dedicated and long-serving public servant for more than 70 years. He began his legal career in 1956 as a trial attorney in the Internal Security Division of the Department of Justice. From there, he took on multiple jobs and roles within the executive and judicial branches of government. In October 1989, he was nominated to the Court of Veterans Appeals by President George H. W. Bush. The court was created in 1988 under President Reagan to allow veterans and their families to appeal benefits decisions from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Board of Veterans Appeals. This court was the first of its kind and provided a forum for veterans and their dependents to advocate for themselves when they disagreed with VA. It currently consists of seven permanent judges and two temporary judges. Judge Nebeker served on the court from the first day it opened until November 2000, when he then became a ``Recall-Eligible Senior Judge.'' He still continued his public service to veterans and periodically performed recall service until December 2022, when he fully retired from the court. Judge Nebeker was a powerful and influential advocate for veterans.…”