I want this room!

Wow. . . I woke up this morning and found that half the country has died. Ok, that may be an exaggeration, but E. Pierce Marshall (the son of Anna Nicole Smith's dead husband), Aaron Spelling and Patsy Ramsey have all died. I have a special place in my heart for Aaron Spelling shows. From "Charlie's Angels" to "90210," I was a fan. No one will ever produce tv shows like them again. I find the death of Patsy Ramsey the most interesting, though. JonBenet Ramsey's death was one of the first "true-crime" stories that I became interested in. I watched every show and news update, read every book, and came to believe that John and Patsy Ramsey had killed their daughter. It may have started as an accident, but I believe that one or both of them were responsible for her death.

Over the next several years, I got neck deep into "true-crime" from all over the country. I amassed quite a library of true crime books and learned all about blood spatter patterns, autopsy protocol and forensic psychology. Recently, I got rid of most of that library . . . I realized a few years ago that I was spending way too much time focusing on death and destruction and not enough thinking about life.

So, farewell to those who passed on yesterday. All will be mourned by those who loved them.

I've never seen so many people turn out for a birthday party. . . or a man who wanted one less than Judge Brown. I am blessed to have worked in the courthouse during Judge Brown's tenure - of course, nearly everyone who has ever worked at the courthouse has done so during his tenure :-). He's truly a treasure -- and he looks adorable sitting on the bench in his great big robe on his great big chair :-)

From President Bush to local lawyers, judge, 99, is honored
District Judge Wesley Brown in Wichita was sworn in by John F. Kennedy in 1962.

BY FRED MANN
The Wichita Eagle
U.S. District Judge Wesley Brown says he'd rather be known as a good judge than an old judge. But Thursday he turned 99 and had to deal with the fuss people made over it.

Friends, staff and media, not to mention the president of the United States and the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, decided it was a big deal.

"I've had more publicity than I deserve," Brown said at his desk in his chambers inside the federal courthouse in Wichita. "I just know I'm still here, and I'm working the best I can."

On the desk was a letter from Chief Justice John Roberts praising Brown for "the 60th anniversary of his 39th birthday." Near it was a card from President and Mrs. George W. Bush.

According to the Federal Judicial Center, Brown is the second-oldest federal judge in the country. Arnold Wilson Cowen, 100, is a federal circuit court judge in Washington, D.C.

But Brown is the oldest judge serving in U.S. district court.

"You do it by concentrating and by having a great staff of people that help you," Brown said. "You try to be patient, compassionate and follow the law."

"Or," he said, amending his comment, "you follow the law and try to be patient."

President Kennedy swore Brown into office in 1962.

"For life, or for good behavior, whichever I lose first," Brown said.

"I try to honor the confidence he and the Senate had in me. I've never lost the desire to do that."

Brown still puts in a full day at the courthouse. He arrives between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., eats lunch in chambers with other judges, and leaves between 4:30 and 5 p.m.

"He works as hard as anybody in that courthouse," said Steve Gradert, an assistant federal public defender.

Brown became a senior judge with a reduced workload in 1979, meaning he's been on senior status nearly twice as long as he was on active status.

But he stays in shape and remains mentally sharp. For exercise, Brown said, he does sit-ups every morning and plays golf when he has the time.

"He's slowed down, but he's still very good about focusing on the big issues," said Mike Lahey, Brown's clerk since 1987. "He's never gotten bogged down in detail, always focused on the big picture, and that hasn't changed at all."

Brown said lawyers think he's changed on the bench over the years, and he admits he may have mellowed.

"He used to be very demanding on the lawyers, and I think he's relaxed a little bit," Lahey said. "But he still keeps them alert."

Gradert, who has appeared regularly in Brown's courtroom, said the judge has always been kind and patient with him, but he's heard stories of less fortunate attorneys.

"Most of the consensus of the bar is that he's mellowed a little bit," Gradert said. "As far as his intellect and his rulings, he's never changed. He's as sharp as a tack and in control of his courtroom."

Brown, who has presided in courtrooms all over the country, praises lawyers for bringing new ideas to him. The law, for him, is ever changing.

"It's been a challenge. Still is. That's what makes it enjoyable," Brown said.

He singles out as his most memorable a helium case that lasted 25 years. Helium companies, natural gas producers and landowners fought over how profits should be shared from the helium extracted from the Hugoton field. It didn't end until 1988, when Brown approved a nearly $90 million settlement.

But, Brown said, "Every case is important."

He plans to hear more of them, even if it means enduring another fuss when he turns 100.

"I'm working toward it," Brown said. "I have no illusions. But as long as I can do the job, I'll carry on."

Some of you may have heard about the Kansas people who were on a language arts trip to Costa Rica and were swept into the ocean by rip currents. At first, I thought that it was just a horrible tragedy, then I realized that my little cousin just graduated from the school that the kids were from and probably knew them, so it made the story a little closer-to-home. This same school suffered a loss a couple of years ago when a student was getting her senior pictures taken with a Bengal tiger which attacked and killed her. I was brokenhearted for these kids who have seen a lot of pain for such a small school. Then I heard the name of the teacher who was still missing in the Atlantic and realized that he is the little brother of a girl that I have known since the 2nd grade. I lost touch with most of my friends when I left high school to be home schooled, and then saw even less of them after I moved to Wichita. Angie is one of the few people from Ark City that I have talked to since I moved. I see her at Arkalalah every year and she did my hair for my cousin's wedding a few years ago. In fact, as maid-of-honor, I paid for the entire bridal party to get their hair done and Angie gave me a huge discount (she said "this is a very good day to be my friend!"). Her brother has been missing since this weekend and I can't imagine what she and the family are going through. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Also, please pray for all of the students and faculty at Labette County High School. Events like this will affect these kids for the rest of their lives. I only attended high school for 1 semester of my sophomore year, but during that time, we had one death by Russian Roulette, one suicide, one death in a car accident and two near fatal car accidents - all within a 6 week time frame. For weeks, the student body was an emotional mess. I'll never forget those few weeks for many reasons (it was the beginning of the worst 2 years I have ever endured), but we certainly learned how to cope with tragedy -- the hard way.

Some of you may have heard about the Kansas people who were on a language arts trip to Costa Rica and were swept into the ocean by rip currents. At first, I thought that it was just a horrible tragedy, then I realized that my little cousin just graduated from the school that the kids were from and probably knew them, so it made the story a little closer-to-home. This same school suffered a loss a couple of years ago when a student was getting her senior pictures taken with a Bengal tiger which attacked and killed her. I was brokenhearted for these kids who have seen a lot of pain for such a small school. Then I heard the name of the teacher who was still missing in the Atlantic and realized that he is the little brother of a girl that I have known since the 2nd grade. I lost touch with most of my friends when I left high school to be home schooled, and then saw even less of them after I moved to Wichita. Angie is one of the few people from Ark City that I have talked to since I moved. I see her at Arkalalah every year and she did my hair for my cousin's wedding a few years ago. In fact, as maid-of-honor, I paid for the entire bridal party to get their hair done and Angie gave me a huge discount (she said "this is a very good day to be my friend!"). Her brother has been missing since this weekend and I can't imagine what she and the family are going through. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Also, please pray for all of the students and faculty at Labette County High School. Events like this will affect these kids for the rest of their lives. I only attended high school for 1 semester of my sophomore year, but during that time, we had one death by Russian Roulette, one suicide, one death in a car accident and two near fatal car accidents - all within a 6 week time frame. For weeks, the student body was an emotional mess. I'll never forget those few weeks for many reasons (it was the beginning of the worst 2 years I have ever endured), but we certainly learned how to cope with tragedy -- the hard way.

Some of you may have heard about the Kansas people who were on a language arts trip to Costa Rica and were swept into the ocean by rip currents. At first, I thought that it was just a horrible tragedy, then I realized that my little cousin just graduated from the school that the kids were from and probably knew them, so it made the story a little closer-to-home. This same school suffered a loss a couple of years ago when a student was getting her senior pictures taken with a Bengal tiger which attacked and killed her. I was brokenhearted for these kids who have seen a lot of pain for such a small school. Then I heard the name of the teacher who was still missing in the Atlantic and realized that he is the little brother of a girl that I have known since the 2nd grade. I lost touch with most of my friends when I left high school to be home schooled, and then saw even less of them after I moved to Wichita. Angie is one of the few people from Ark City that I have talked to since I moved. I see her at Arkalalah every year and she did my hair for my cousin's wedding a few years ago. In fact, as maid-of-honor, I paid for the entire bridal party to get their hair done and Angie gave me a huge discount (she said "this is a very good day to be my friend!"). Her brother has been missing since this weekend and I can't imagine what she and the family are going through. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Also, please pray for all of the students and faculty at Labette County High School. Events like this will affect these kids for the rest of their lives. I only attended high school for 1 semester of my sophomore year, but during that time, we had one death by Russian Roulette, one suicide, one death in a car accident and two near fatal car accidents - all within a 6 week time frame. For weeks, the student body was an emotional mess. I'll never forget those few weeks for many reasons (it was the beginning of the worst 2 years I have ever endured), but we certainly learned how to cope with tragedy -- the hard way.

Some of you may have heard about the Kansas people who were on a language arts trip to Costa Rica and were swept into the ocean by rip currents. At first, I thought that it was just a horrible tragedy, then I realized that my little cousin just graduated from the school that the kids were from and probably knew them, so it made the story a little closer-to-home. This same school suffered a loss a couple of years ago when a student was getting her senior pictures taken with a Bengal tiger which attacked and killed her. I was brokenhearted for these kids who have seen a lot of pain for such a small school. Then I heard the name of the teacher who was still missing in the Atlantic and realized that he is the little brother of a girl that I have known since the 2nd grade. I lost touch with most of my friends when I left high school to be home schooled, and then saw even less of them after I moved to Wichita. Angie is one of the few people from Ark City that I have talked to since I moved. I see her at Arkalalah every year and she did my hair for my cousin's wedding a few years ago. In fact, as maid-of-honor, I paid for the entire bridal party to get their hair done and Angie gave me a huge discount (she said "this is a very good day to be my friend!"). Her brother has been missing since this weekend and I can't imagine what she and the family are going through. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Also, please pray for all of the students and faculty at Labette County High School. Events like this will affect these kids for the rest of their lives. I only attended high school for 1 semester of my sophomore year, but during that time, we had one death by Russian Roulette, one suicide, one death in a car accident and two near fatal car accidents - all within a 6 week time frame. For weeks, the student body was an emotional mess. I'll never forget those few weeks for many reasons (it was the beginning of the worst 2 years I have ever endured), but we certainly learned how to cope with tragedy -- the hard way.

This is the text of an honest-to-goodness order that was filed by a federal judge in the Middle District of Florida (my friend Sheryl is in charge down there - of everyone but the judges, that is). I have left off the names to protect the idiotic (the parties, apparently) and the wicked-awesome (the judge).

"This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion to designate location of a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition (Doc. 105). Upon consideration of the Motion – the latest in a series of Gordian knots that the parties
have been unable to untangle without enlisting the assistance of the federal courts – it is

ORDERED that said Motion is DENIED. Instead, the Court will fashion a new form of alternative dispute resolution, to wit: at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, June 30, 2006, counsel shall convene at a neutral site agreeable to both parties. If counsel cannot agree on a neutral site, they shall meet on the front steps of the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse, 801 North Florida Ave., Tampa, Florida 33602. Each lawyer shall be entitled to be accompanied by one paralegal who shall act as an attendant and witness. At that time and location, counsel
shall engage in one (1) game of “rock, paper, scissors.” The winner of this engagement shall be entitled to select the location for the 30(b)(6) deposition to be held somewhere in Hillsborough County during the period July 11-12, 2006. If either party disputes the outcome of this engagement, an appeal may be filed and a hearing will be held at 8:30 A.M. on Friday, July 7, 2006 before the undersigned in Courtroom 3, George C. Young United States Courthouse and Federal Building, 80 North Hughey Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801.

DONE and ORDERED in Chambers, Orlando, Florida on June 6, 2006."

Well, vacation in Vegas was good. You can see some of the pictures here. We were out and about a lot and got pretty tired, pretty cranky and pretty sick by the end of the week, but we had a good time over all. We got home Friday and I unpacked, did my laundry, ran to Wal-Mart and then came home an collapsed. I was feeling crummy so I took some Nyquil and fell asleep in the bathtub. I woke up an managed to drag myself to bed at 8:00. I got up at 11:30 Saturday with a terrible cold/flu thing and have been laying on the couch ever since. Basically, I have no voice and a nasty cough, but at least I have to go back to work tomorrow :-). Always looking at the bright side. . .