Obit of the Day: Oldest Sitting Judge in the U.S.
When Wesley Brown graduated from the University of Kansas in 1925, Calvin Coolidge was president. (He also studied under James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Seriously.)
When he passed the bar exam in 1933, Franklin Roosevelt was president.
When he was appointed a bankrupty judge in 1958, it was by Dwight Eisenhower.
When he was appointed a federal judge in 1963, it was by John F. Kennedy.
When he died, at the age of 104, Barack Obama was president.
Judge Brown, a liberal judge, oversaw cases that forbid the firing of a pregnant, single woman, allowed a girl to play high school golf, and awarded damages to underpaid African American rail workers. He had a full docket until he turned 100.
OOTD’s favorite Judge Brown quote from the wonderful obituary: “Actuarily, I don’t exist.” Supercentenarians have such a dry sense of humor.
(Image of Judge Brown putting on his robe on May 4, 2007. He turned 100 on June 22, 2007. Copyright of the Associated Press and courtesy of Kansas.com)
