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January 23, 2008

OU alumnus will be sworn in as chief judge this week at OU

By Julianna Parker

By Julianna Parker

Transcript Staff Writer

One OU alumnus will return to his roots this week and bring a whole circuit court with him.

Robert Henry will be sworn in as the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Friday at OU. Starting today and leading up to the ceremony, the court will move to several locations in the area.

“It is customary for a new chief judge to move the first term of court to his home city,” Henry said in an e-mail. So the court will sit at the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City, at Oklahoma City University Law School and at the OU College of Law, he said.

“I could select just about anywhere for the ceremony, so why not put our best foot forward and go with the Reynolds Performing Arts Center at my alma mater,” Henry said.

In addition to Henry’s colleagues at the 10th Circuit Court, Stephen Breyer, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since 1994, and Sandra Day O’Connor, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1981 to 2006, will be in town for this week’s events. Both will participate in a fireside chat open to OU students, faculty and staff Thursday night, and offer remarks at Henry’s investiture ceremony to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The U.S. Court of Appeals hears cases when the decisions of district courts are appealed. The 10th circuit court sits in Denver and covers cases from Oklahoma and five surrounding states, said Leo Whinery, Alfred P. Murrah professor of law emeritus. Whinery taught at OU College of Law when Henry was there.

“He was a very good student here at OU,” Whinery said. And Henry’s certainly had a distinguished career since, Whinery said.

OU’s primary influence on him has been that he seeks to be a lifelong learner, Henry said.

He attended OU as a University Scholar beginning in 1971. He graduated early and enrolled in OU law school.

“My last semester of law school I jumped off a cliff and ran for the state legislature, squeaking into the run-off against a handful of opponents,” Henry said. “I prevailed (losing 10 pounds from door-to-door campaigning).”

Since then, Henry said he has been privileged to serve in all three branches of government: 10 years as an Oklahoma legislator making laws; five years as Oklahoma attorney general, enforcing laws and writing AG opinions; and almost 14 years as a judge, trying to make sure laws are followed and interpreted correctly. In between, he spent three years as a dean and professor of law at Oklahoma City University Law School.

“I ought to have the background to do this job well,” Henry concluded. “We’ll see.”

The investiture ceremony, which is open to OU students, faculty and staff, will be 1:30 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center, 560 Parrington Oval.

OU President David Boren will preside Thursday evening over a fireside chat with Breyer and O’Connor. Breyer also will address OU law students and faculty Thursday afternoon as keynote speaker for the Henry Family Lecture in Jurisprudence.

A limited number of seats are available to OU students, faculty and staff for the fireside chat and dinner. OU students, faculty and staff interested in attending the fireside chat and dinner Thursday can make reservations by calling the Action Line at 325-1212. No reservations are required for OU students, faculty and staff attending the investiture ceremony.

Julianna Parker366-3541jparker@normantranscript.com

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