Speech in honor of the dedication of the John R. Brown admiralty library at the University of Houston Law Center building.

• Author: Brown, Karen K.
• Position: Testimonial

I am very pleased to be asked to introduce Judge John R. Brown (1) to you on this occasion. This is the first time that I can recall, in the eighteen years that I have known him, that I have had the opportunity to speak first. I am going to enjoy taking full advantage of it. Every law clerk who ever worked for him has special memories. I thought I might give you the benefit of what I, after eighteen years, think of when someone mentions Judge John R. Brown to me.

I do not immediately think of him as the "chief-of-all-the-chiefs," although he was. He was, when I was his law clerk, the chief judge of the largest constitutional court in the United States. The Supreme Court was superior. However, we knew the truth; our court was larger. I do not immediately think of him as the strong hand that guided the court through the volatile years of civil rights cases, which reflect the most extraordinary changes that have occurred in this country in my lifetime, although he was.

I do not immediately think of him as a master of organization, although he is. His innovative procedures are still followed today by the Fifth Circuit, despite the fact that it has increased its caseload since he was chief judge. For the benefit of those who have little sartorial imagination, and who might spread the rumor that John R. Brown is color blind because of his bright apparel, I know that that is not true because he color-coded the Fifth Circuit. He can tell his pinkies, from his bluies, and he always gets them in the right stack.

I do not think of him immediately as a master strategist and tactician, although he is. I have seen him find a way through a minefield of legal issues and bitter, divisive battles between judges, as well as lawyers.

I do not think of him immediately as a brilliant trial lawyer, although I know that he was when he was practicing. I know this in part because Judge Hannay told me stories about when John Brown appeared before him. One such case was a trial in which John Brown represented the vessel and the captain. The captain allegedly strapped a seaman to the mast and took a "cat-o'nine-tails" to his back. Judge Brown argued the only reasonable defense--self-defense. Judge Hannay was still marveling over that case years later.

What I think about when someone mentions Judge John R. Brown is a scene that occurred in December 1973. Now my experience with Judge Brown comes from a very peculiar vantage point. I was his second female law clerk. He...