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Longtime Judge James R. Browning Dies

Judge James R. Browning, a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for more than 50 years, died at age 93 on May 5. He served as his court's chief judge for 12 years, and was Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court before his judicial appointment.

"While we are always saddened by the loss of a valued colleague, the passing of John Browning truly marks the end of an era for the Ninth Circuit," said Chief Judge Alex Kozinski. "His name became synonymous with that of the Ninth Circuit and he is rightfully the eponym for our historic headquarters building in San Francisco."

Browning was born in Great Falls, Montana, on October 1, 1918. He received his law degree from the University of Montana School of Law in 1941. Chief Justice Earl Warren appointed Browning to serve as clerk of the Supreme Court in 1958, and three years later was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to the appeals court.

Browning served as an active judge for nearly 40 years before taking senior status in 2000, and continued to hear cases for many years thereafter.

Related Topics: Appellate Courts, Judges & Judgeships, Judicial History