On the recordJuly 19, 2011
On July 24, 2011, Chief U.S. District Judge William F. Downes will retire after 17 years on the Federal bench in Wyoming. Judge Downes has long recognized that for our democracy to survive, a strong judicial branch is necessary. As he acknowledged during his Senate Judiciary nomination hearing in 1994, the strength of the judiciary is not determined by activist judges and changing the law to achieve a desired outcome. Rather, a strong judiciary consists of judges who uphold the Constitution, are thorough in their decisions, have not formulated an opinion prior to a case being heard, and treat people with respect and decency. This was the standard that Judge Downes set for himself in 1994. By all accounts he achieved that standard in his courtroom. Judge Downes, the grandson of Irish immigrants, has enjoyed the opportunity to welcome new citizens to our nation by performing Naturalization ceremonies. Cited as one of the highlights of his career, he has always said a Naturalization ceremony is one of the few times people come to the courthouse happy and leave even happier. He began his public service early in life when he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1971. Though he did not make military service his career, his career in the law has been profoundly affected by his military service.…
