Wesley Brown: The oldest federal judge in US history

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

Why it’s not all quiet on the ‘Western Fail’ front

The 'National Newspaper of Wales', has today found itself at the heart of a Twitter storm. Rob Willi...

Charitable rape: Peacekeepers dirty little secrets

Last summer I travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help establish the first free l...

Islam is not “the enemy” – irrational hatred is

In recent days, Wired magazine in the US reported that a military officer and lecturer in a US prest...

Lady Gaga corrupting youth, Bieber Fever and other reasons for gig cancellations

Are pop concerts the latest battle ground of moral superiority? Well, with Lady Gaga’s Indonesian co...

The US District Judge Wesley Brown, who died on 23 January at the age of 104, was the oldest sitting federal judge in US history.

During his long tenure, the senior judge in Wichita repeatedly tried to explain why he had not yet fully retired from the federal bench. "As a federal judge, I was appointed for life or good behaviour, whichever I lose first," Brown said in 2011. How did he plan to leave the post? "Feet first," he replied.

Brown (pictured above right in 2000), was appointed as a federal district judge in 1962 by President Kennedy. In 1979, he officially took senior status, a type of semi-retirement that allows federal judges to work with a full or reduced case level. But he continued to carry a full workload for decades.

"I do it to be a public service," he said. "You got to have a reason to live. As long as you perform a public service, you have a reason to live."

In recent years, Brown's stooped frame nearly disappeared behind the federal bench during hearings. His gait was slower, but his mind remained sharp as he presided over a tightly run courtroom. It was not until last March that Brown removed himself from the draw for assignment of new criminal case, and by the time he died he was no longer presiding over hearings.

Brown had asked his colleagues years before his death to notify him if at any point they felt he was no longer able to serve. "I will quit this job when I think it is time," he said. "And I hope I leave the country in better shape."

Brown, who was born on 22 June 1907, in Hutchinson, Kansas, was six years older than the next oldest sitting federal judge. At least eight other federal judges are in their nineties.

Brown started his career with the firm of Williams, Martindell and Carey in Hutchinson. Except for two brief breaks – one at 27 when he was elected Reno County attorney and the other at 37 when he joined the Navy – Brown spent his Hutchinson career practicing law there. In 1939, he became a partner.

He moved to Wichita at 50 after receiving his first federal appointment as a bankruptcy judge in Wichita in 1958, and four years later was appointed a federal district judge in Wichita.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Hollywood's former holiday destination of choice to vanish from tourist map

Falling off the tourist map

California's Salton Sea
Life as a hermit: 'My life is a great adventure'

Life as a hermit

For nearly 30 years, Jake Willams has lived as a hermit in the Scottish wilderness
European egrets move to Somerset – for the weather

Herons over here

European egrets move to Somerset – for the weather
Animals left for dead in Indonesian zoos

Zoos of death

Animals left for dead in Indonesian zoos
Millions of Asians watch 'ring of fire' eclipse

Ring of fire eclipse

The annular eclipse in pictures
Bee Gees star Robin Gibb - A Life in Pictures

A Life in Pictures

Bee Gees star Robin Gibb
Antelope first seen 20 years ago is on brink of extinction

Endangered animals

The good news and the bad news
Second best day of his life? Zuckerberg surprises friends with secret wedding

Second best day of his life?

Zuckerberg surprises friends with secret wedding
Laurie Penny: In the age of camera phones the message is that protesters are watching police too

Occupy in the age of the camera phone

In Chicago, you can't see the cops for the cameras
Exclusive extract: How Cameron tried to evade Murdoch's embrace

Exclusive book extract

How Cameron tried to evade Murdoch's embrace
Pathetic fantasist or Nazi spy? The mysterious Mrs O'Grady

Pathetic fantasist or Nazi spy? The mysterious Mrs O'Grady

She was the only British woman sentenced to death for treason during the Second World War. Now, a new book revisits her bizarre case
Introducing the wellderly

Introducing the wellderly

Growing numbers of the over-65s want to keep working, volunteer or go on gap years
Penny Junor: 'I'm absolutely not a friend of Prince Charles'

Penny Junor interview

'I'm absolutely not a friend of Prince Charles'
Joe Strummer: The angry young man who grew up

Joe Strummer

How to remember the punk hero?
Patrick Cockburn: Goodbye to recent delusions - the age of nationalism is back with a vengeance

Patrick Cockburn: Goodbye to recent delusions...

... the age of nationalism is back with a vengeance