Richard Harvey Chambers
Encyclopedia
Richard Harvey Chambers was a United States federal judge
.
. Three months later, the family moved to Solomonville, Arizona
, where his father worked as clerk of the district court of Graham County
. In 1924, Chambers graduated as class president from Safford High School
, Safford, Arizona
and then earned an A.B.
in economics from the University of Arizona
in 1929, where he served as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. Chambers received an LL.B. from Stanford University
in 1932. He practiced law in Tucson, Arizona
, 1932–1942 and 1945–1954, and served as a United States Army Air Corps
Major from 1942 to 1945.
On April 6, 1954, Chambers was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
to serve as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
. Chambers served as chief judge from 1959 to 1976, the longest-serving chief judge in the history of the Ninth Circuit. When Chambers assumed senior status
on December 31, 1976, he was the "longest-tenured chief of any circuit, ever." The United States Court of Appeals Building in Pasadena, California
, bears his name; but four other historic courthouses in the Ninth Circuit—in San Francisco, Portland
, Tacoma
, and San Diego—also owe "their survival and resurrection" to Chambers' "vision and tenacity." Chambers died on October 21, 1994.
horse.
Chambers dedicated himself to writing judicial prose that was succinct, folksy, even quirky, believing that in writing accessible decisions, his court could more effectively create legal precedent, provide popular accountability, and produce a usable historical record.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Biography
Chambers was born to William Rock and Lida Chambers in Danville, IllinoisDanville, Illinois
Danville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is the principal city of the'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Danville and Vermilion County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 32,467. It is the county seat of...
. Three months later, the family moved to Solomonville, Arizona
Solomonville, Arizona
Solomonville is a small unincorporated community in Graham County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, where his father worked as clerk of the district court of Graham County
Graham County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*1.8% Black*14.4% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*8.3% Other races*30.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. In 1924, Chambers graduated as class president from Safford High School
Safford High School
Safford High School, of the Safford Unified School District, is one of two public high schools in Safford, Arizona. The campus hosts the Safford Center for the Arts, located on the north lot of the campus property....
, Safford, Arizona
Safford, Arizona
- History :Safford was founded by Joshua Eaton Bailey, Hiram Kennedy and Edward Tuttle, who came from Gila Bend, in southwestern Arizona. They left Gila Bend in the winter of 1873-74; their work on canals and dams having been destroyed by high water the previous summer...
and then earned an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in economics from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in 1929, where he served as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. Chambers received an LL.B. from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1932. He practiced law in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, 1932–1942 and 1945–1954, and served as a United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
Major from 1942 to 1945.
On April 6, 1954, Chambers was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to serve as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
. Chambers served as chief judge from 1959 to 1976, the longest-serving chief judge in the history of the Ninth Circuit. When Chambers assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on December 31, 1976, he was the "longest-tenured chief of any circuit, ever." The United States Court of Appeals Building in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, bears his name; but four other historic courthouses in the Ninth Circuit—in San Francisco, Portland
Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse
Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse is federal courthouse located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Completed in 1933, it previously housed the United States District Court for the District of Oregon until the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse opened in 1997. The Renaissance...
, Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, and San Diego—also owe "their survival and resurrection" to Chambers' "vision and tenacity." Chambers died on October 21, 1994.
Personality
Chambers "had something of a coarse exterior" as well as a "slow, low, and deliberate speaking style" that he himself described as "halting speech." The gruff appearance only lightly concealed "a mischievous sense of humor." For instance, Chambers frequently wrote memoranda to his colleagues under the pseudonym, "Tom Chambers," the name of his palominoPalomino
Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino color is created by a single allele of a dilution gene called the cream gene working on a "red" base coat...
horse.
Chambers dedicated himself to writing judicial prose that was succinct, folksy, even quirky, believing that in writing accessible decisions, his court could more effectively create legal precedent, provide popular accountability, and produce a usable historical record.
Further reading
- Caleb Langston, "Built to Last: Judge Richard H. Chambers and His Pasadena Courthouse," Western Legal History, 19 (2006), 3-25.
- Michael Eric Siegel, "Riding Tall in a Small Saddle: The Chief Judgeship of Richard H. Chambers, Western Legal History, 19 (2006), 27-53.
- Cynthia Holcomb Hall, "A Former Law Clerk Remembers," Western Legal History, 19 (2006), 55-57.
- Lee M. A. Simpson, "Preserving the Ninth Circuit," Western Legal History, 19 (2006), 59-88.
- Alfred T. Goodwin, "Judge Chambers Confers Sainthood: A Reminiscence," Western Legal History, 19 (2006), 89-90.
- Rebekah Heiser Hanley, "Matters of Style, Matters of Opinion: The Voice and Legacy of Richard Chambers, Western Legal History, 19 (2006), 91-122.