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Judicial Appointments - Washington
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4520612
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Judicial Appointments - Washington
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Philip W. Buchen Files
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The original documents are located in Box 21, folder "Judicial Appointments -
Washington" of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
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copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 21 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Julgesly
January 23, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR
THE HONORABLE HAROLD R. TYLER
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
Attached is a copy of a letter which I received
from Robert Cooper, U. S. Magistrate in the
Western District of Washington.
Although the writer and I were in Law School
together, I did not know him well enough to
form an impression of his abilities.
I have written to Mr. Cooper to acknowledge his
letter and to indicate that I was passing on to
you a copy of his letter and to suggest that he
make his interest known to his U. S. Senators.
T.W.B.
Philip W. Buchen
Counsel to the President
Attachment
CC: Mr. Douglas Bennett
FORD
LIBRARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 23, 1976
Dear Bob:
It was a pleasure to get your letter and to be
reminded of our days together at the University
of Michigan Law School and to receive your
comments on how our old Professors Aigler and
Grismore might feel about my present assignment.
On the matter of the vacancy created by
Judge Goodwin's death, I presume you are aware
that the U. S. Senators from the State of
Washington will become very much involved in
the ultimate selection of a new judge. Also,
in the Executive branch, the evaluation of
various possible nominees takes place initially
in the Department of Justice which in turn works
with the American Bar Association.
For that reason, I will send a copy of your letter
to Deputy Attorney General Tyler so that he will
know of your interest. However, on your part, I
believe you should make contact with your Senators.
Warmest regards and best wishes.
Sincerely,
Thil
Philip W. Buchen
Counsel to the President
The Honorable Robert E. Cooper
United States Magistrate
United States District Court
Western District of Washington
408 Federal Building
Tacoma, Washington 98402
FORD
LIBRAR
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
January 12, 1976
ROBERT E. COOPER
408 FEDERAL BUILDING
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE
TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98402
(206) 593-6307
Mr. Philip Buchen
White House Counsel
The White House
Washington, D. C. 20500
Dear Phil:
A vacancy in the federal judiciary in the Western District of
Washington has arisen due to the recent death on December 31,
1975 of Judge William N. Goodwin of Tacoma, Washington. I am
applying for an appointment to this vacant position and hope
that I can prevail upon you to have my name reviewed along with
others who may be brought to the attention of the President for
such consideration.
To explain my identity, it is necessary to go back to law school
days when we were classmates. Although this connection is at
best a tenuous relationship on which to make this request, I do
so with some justification as there appears to be an absence of
any settled method by which one's name is brought to the
attention of the appointing authority without the intervention
of the Governor of the State.
After reading yesterday (1/8/76) in the local press of his
suggestion that his administrative aide would be a good choice
for the appointment, I decided it would be fruitless to expect
a recommendation from this source.
My acquaintance with the President is probably even more remote
than with you, although as a freshman football player, we
probably scrimmaged at Ferry Field when he was the team captain.
My subsequent football career at Michigan is probably best for-
gotten and I only mention it with the hope that there might
be some spark of recognition.
Whether or not my credentials are worthy of an appointment to
this important position must rest on my record as a practicing
lawyer and service as a United States Magistrate for the past
Mr. Philip Buchen
January 12, 1976
Page 2
five years working under the direction of the late Judge Goodwin
and Judge George H. Boldt, currently a senior Judge in Tacoma.
I feel confident Judge Boldt would approve of my qualifications,
if asked, although I believe it would be inappropriate for me to
solicit a recommendation from a Judge currently sitting within
the District.
My name has been submitted for approval to the local County Bar
Association on various occasions for appointment to the Bench
and I have always been among the top two or three on the list
after a County wide poll of the members of the Bar. After
moving to the Tacoma area in 1946, I have been actively engaged
in the general practice of law and was selected as President
of the County Bar Association in 1962-63. My selection as
U. S. Magistrate in 1970 by the judges of the Western District
of Washington precluded my further practice of law.
My particular qualification for this position is my close ac-
quaintance with the handling of federal criminal cases which
occupies well over half the case load insofar as time spent by
the Judge is concerned. As the first full time U. S. Magistrate
in the State of Washington, I have handled preliminary hearings
and trials for several thousand cases during my tenure. Because
of the close proximity of large military installations near
Tacoma I have had one of the largest dockets of minor cases
under federal jurisdiction in the country. At any rate with
this experience I have developed a certain expertise in hearing
criminal matters. In addition to the criminal case load, I
have been called upon to serve as special master in many civil
matters and have developed a familiarity with such litigation.
Prior to service as a U. S. Magistrate, I had been employed on a
part time basis as U. S. Court Commissioner continuously since
1956. At the specific request of the Court I was asked not to
engage in partisan politics since I was considered part of the
judicial branch of the Government. This might explain my seeming
lack of any political base from which to request a local
political recommendation.
In my earlier residence in Tacoma, I did, however, take an active
part in Republican politics having served on the County Central
Committee as well as President of the Young Republicans for
Pierce County Washington.
Mr. Philip Buchen
January 12, 1976
Page 3
Enclosed is a brief resume of my background including my career
as a lawyer and judicial officer in the event it is felt that
consideration can be given to my application for this position.
Whether or not I am considered for the appointment, it is hoped
that the person selected be from Pierce County or another south-
western county of the State as this is the area primarily served
by the Judge sitting in Tacoma. To date nearly all the names
suggested by the Governor or mentioned in the press have been
from the Seattle area where the other judges within the District
preside. Hopefully, we can have someone appointed from among
our own bench or bar within Pierce County with whose qualifi-
cations are acquainted.
It is pleasant to hear your name mentioned as White House Counsel
and to see your face occasionally on the TV screen in connection
with your duties. I have often thought how pleased Aigler or
Grismore would be in being able to claim you as one of their
students.
With best wishes, and I hope I have not imposed too much on
your time or violated some sacred prodecure in making this
direct approach.
Very truly yours,
Robert E. Cooper
ROBERT E. COOPER
REC:FI
Enc.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
NAME:
ROBERT E. COOPER
ADDRESS:
10808 Colvos Drive N. W.
Gig Harbor, Wash. 98335
OCCUPATION: UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE
ADDRESS:
408 Federal Building
Tacoma, Wash 98402
PHONE:
(206) 593 6307
DATE OF BIRTH: August 10, 1916 - Detroit, Michigan
EDUCATION: Elementary and High School, Detroit, Michigan
University of Michigan - 1934-38 B.A. Degree
Law School, University of Michigan - 1938-41 L.L.B. Degree
MILITARY EXPERIENCE:
U. S. ARMY - Nov., 1941 - Nov., 1945. Entered as a
Private in Medical Corps. Attended Officers Candidate School
and commissioned in Australia in 1943. Infantry Platoon Leader
41st Division in New Guinea. Later assigned as Chief of Criminal
Investigation in New Guinea and Phillipines in Provost Marshal
Division with rank of Captain.
EMPLOYMENT: Office of Price Administration, Detroit, Michigan 1945-46
1946-1970 - Private practice of law in Tacoma, Wash. ,
also serving as U. S. Court Commissioner from 1956- 1970
1971-1976 - U. S. Magistrate, Western District of Wash.
CHURCH and COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Ordained Elder, Presbyterian Church
Board Member YMCA, Kiwanis, Franke Tobey Jones Retire-
ment Home.
January 31, 1976
Holman
Ann
Dear Dr. Chambers:
Many thanks for your letter to the President of January 26
in which you recommend Judge Nancy Ann Holman for appoint-
ment to the United States District Court in Washington.
I immediately referred your letter to the Department of
Justice where recommendations for appointment to the
Federal bench are initially considered.
Sincerely,
Philip W. Buchen
Counsel to the President
Dr. Marjorie Bell Chambers
President
American Association of
University Women
2401 Virginia Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
PWB; 11
TORD
Friday, February 13, 1976
The attached is from the Chief Justice. His note of a few
days ago indicated he had given you the wrong judge as being
deceased.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
GOODWIN, WILLIAM NELSON
United States District Judge
Eastern and Western Districts
of Washington
Office address:
Post Office Box 1573
Tacoma, Washington 98401
Phone: (206) MA 7-5411
383-5275 FTS
Born: McKenna, Washington
August 17, 1909
Home address:
13508 Spanaway Loop Road S.
Tacoma, Washington 98444
Phone: (206) LE 7-7821
Judge Goodwin was appointed United States District Judge for
the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington on April 21, 1966
and entered on duty April 27, 1966. He served as Chief Judge of the
Eastern District from April 19, 1972 through November 17, 1973 and
is presently Chief Judge of the Western District since June 1, 1973.
He received a B.A. degree from Washington State University in 1931
and an LL.B. degree from the University of Oregon in 1937. He
served as United States Attorney for the Western District of Washing-
ton from 1964 to 1966.
Judge Goodwin is married to the former Beverly D. Bird and has
five children: Carol J. Goodwin Lusk, William N. Jr., Mary Ellen Good-
win Anderson, Kathleen D. Goodwin Kuciemba, and Colleen. He is a
member of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Dereased 12/31/75
CHIEF JUSTICE
CHAMBERS OF THE
FEB 10 FEB 10 9 38 AM '76
RECEIVED
248
FORD & LIBRARY 038470