Ike Appointee Was Longest Sitting Judge

Judge Edwin F. Hunter Jr. (W.D. La.) died last month, four days after celebrating his 91 birthday. At that time, he was the longest sitting federal judge.

Hunter began his federal career in 1953 when he received a recess appointment from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, to be one of two federal judges in the Western District of Louisiana. Congress confirmed him in February 1954. He served as chief judge for the district from 1970 until 1976, when he took senior status.

A native of Alexandria, Louisiana, Hunter graduated from Louisiana State University, received his law degree from George Washington University, and entered private practice. During World War II, he earned six Battle Stars serving on the USS Saratoga and the USS St. Paul. After the war, he served one term on the Louisiana Legislature, then served briefly as executive counsel to the Governor of Louisiana. Shortly after being appointed to the federal bench, Hunter ruled for the plaintiff in a case that opened all-white McNeese State University to the first African-American students. In another landmark legal ruling several years later,James Roach v. Dresser Industries, Hunter classified the Louisiana Acadians as a national minority.

In his 89th year, Hunter told The Third Branch he'd be bored if he didn't come to work, and the substantial civil workload he continued to carry until the end of his life showed that boredom was not a possibility. It was reported he presided over more admiralty cases than any other judge. The federal courthouse in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is named in his honor.

Financial Disclosure Reports Due May 15

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires each judge and each Judiciary employee whose basic pay is 120 percent of the basic pay of a GS-15 to file by May 15 of each year a financial disclosure report with the staff of the Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosure. Filing packets were mailed to each filer in early February containing the necessary forms and software to meet the May 15, 2002, due date. If you filed a report last year and have not received your filing packet, you should contact the staff of the Committee on Financial Disclosure at (202) 502-1850 or you may download the information from the Judges Corner on J-Net.

The Act requires that the Committee on Financial Disclosure review each report to assure that, on the basis of the information provided, the reporting person is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Committee also reviews reports to determine potential conflicts of interest or ethical problems. Such reviews are important because these reports are public records and releasable to any individual who properly requests a copy of a report. Questions about the release of reports should be addressed to the staff of the Committee at (202) 502-1850.