James Oberstar: “H.R. 2841 is a bill to designate the court of international trade in New York City in honor of Judge James L. Watson.…”

“H.R. 2841 is a bill to designate the court of international trade in New York City in honor of Judge James L. Watson. Judge Watson, a native New Yorker born in Harlem in 1922, lived and worked his entire life in New York. He served in the New York State Senate and as a Civil Court Judge before his appointment by President Johnson to the federal bench in 1966. During World War II, he served in the legendary Buffalo Soldiers Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Battle Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, and a U.S. Army commendation. After the war, he began private practice and became actively involved in local politics. In 1963, he was appointed to the Civil Court of New York and hired our Colleague Charlie Rangel as one of his staff attorneys. During his years on the Court of International Trade, he modernized the court system and played a major role in rewriting the court's rules. He was instrumental in introducing computers into judicial activity. Judge Watson was the Nation's most senior African-American federal judge. He enjoyed a national reputation for handling our fair sentences. He was a sought-after public speaker, served on the Board of Visitors of Fordham University, and on the board of the Harlem YMCA. His colleagues, politicians, and even other lawyers, sought his wise advice and safe counsel. Judge Watson's life serves as a model of diligence, hard work, and fairness.”