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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF JUDGE WILEY DANIEL
______
HON. DIANA DeGETTE
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Monday, June 3, 2019
Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and
achievements of Judge Wiley Daniel, the first African American judge
appointed to the U.S. District Court for Colorado, who recently passed
away on Friday, May 10, 2019.
Judge Daniel was born in 1946 in Louisville, Kentucky and received
his undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University in Washington,
D.C. He spent six years in private practice in Detroit before moving to
Denver in 1977 where he practiced law for 24 years with a specialty in
civil litigation.
In 1992, he rose to be the first--and only--African American
president of the Colorado Bar Association. Three years later, President
Bill Clinton appointed Mr. Daniel to the U.S. District Court for
Colorado, becoming the first African American federal judge in the
state. Thirteen years after Judge Daniel took the bench, he became
chief judge of the court.
Judge Daniel served admirably both inside and outside of the
courtroom. He served as President of the Federal Judges Association, a
national organization that supports hundreds of federal judges. He also
taught courses in trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at the
University of Colorado Law School and the University of Denver Sturm
College of Law, where he mentored students. Additionally, from 1998 to
2003, Judge Daniel was a Trustee of the American Inns of Court
Foundation, an organization which advocates for professionalism,
ethics, civility and excellence throughout the legal profession. Until
his final days, Judge Daniel was active in his church--Park Hill United
Methodist in north Denver--where he served as a Deacon, sang in the
choir and mentored young members.
Judge Daniel believed that racial and gender diversity in the
judiciary is important. Accordingly, he was active in the Delta Eta
Boule fraternity, the nation's first African American professional
organization. In fact, one of Daniel's passions was the fraternity's
scholarship program, which helps young, bright African American
students in the metro Denver area attend college.
Judge Daniel retired in 2013 but continued to hear cases and guide
younger lawyers. Not surprisingly, Judge Daniel's distinguished legal
career and dedication to the community has been recognized many times
with numerous awards and accolades. In 2006, Judge Daniel was honored
with the American Inns of Court Foundation Professionalism Award for
the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2012, he was inducted to the
Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame due to his pioneering professional
achievements. In 2013, Judge Daniel was awarded the King Trimble
Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sam Cary Bar Association. In 2015,
Judge Daniel was selected as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement
Award by the Center for Legal Inclusiveness in recognition of his
lifelong commitment to diversity and inclusiveness within the legal
profession. Finally, in 2018, the National Black Prosecutors
Association presented Daniel with the Trailblazer Award.
On May 10, 2019, at the age of 72, Judge Wiley Daniel passed away. He
was one of the trailblazing Coloradoans whose hands have shaped the
United States into the great nation it is today. He was principled,
pragmatic, well-respected and beloved. That is why his legacy will live
on for many decades to come.
My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, the Denver law
community and all Coloradoans who mourn this terrible loss.
____________________
