By Julianna Parker
Transcript Staff Writer
Judge Robert Henry was appointed chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit at an investiture ceremony Friday afternoon in Reynolds Performing Arts Center on the University of Oklahoma campus.
“I have absolutely no worries,” Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, the woman Henry is replacing, said about Henry’s competence. “I have absolute confidence that one of the great jurors in our nation … and a true public servant is our new chief judge.”
Henry was chosen as the next chief judge based on his seniority in the 10th Circuit Court. He will serve a seven year term.
“This ceremony has gone on a long time for something based solely on seniority,” Henry said.
The hour-and-forty-minute investiture ceremony full of pomp capped three days of events in the Oklahoma City area in honor of Henry’s new position.
Wednesday through Thursday, the 10th Circuit moved court proceedings to locations in Oklahoma City and Norman. In addition to the judges on the 10th Circuit Court, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor also were in town.
Breyer spoke at the OU College of Law Thursday afternoon and both justices spoke at a banquet Thursday evening.
The ceremony Friday had a light-hearted feel. OU Law Dean Andrew Coats cracked jokes between nearly every speaker. The arts were included, OU President David Boren said, to “give perspective to our lives.”
Prelude music was provided by violist Yuval Waldman, opera singer Leona Mitchell sang the national anthem and poet laureate of Oklahoma N. Scott Momaday read an American Indian honor song.
The U.S. and state flags were presented by the Kiowa Black Leggings Society and accompanied by the Pipes and Drums of the Highlanders.
Remarks were made by several dignitaries, including Gov. Brad Henry, Judge Henry’s cousin; Tacha; Boren; Breyer and O’Connor.
O’Connor, a friend of Henry, said he will be a great leader, setting the pace for the rest of the circuit courts in the U.S.
“We’ve been blessed in our country to have as judges the finest talent that we have in our country,” she said, praising the federal court system.
David M. Ebel, senior judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, introduced Henry by showing a slide show of the judge through the years, complete with snide remarks: “Are those really your legs or are you standing on a chicken?”
But when he got down to serious things, Ebel had only good things to say about Henry, saying his deepest values are fairness and collegiality.
In fact, the whole event seemed a bit like a group of dear friends getting together, teasing each other and praising one another’s accomplishments.
When Henry finally rose to speak, he attributed his success to others.
“I have somehow been able to choose and maintain excellent friends,” he said.
Julianna Parker
366-3541
jparker@normantranscript.com
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Henry made chief judge of 10th Circuit at OU
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