HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2009-56 RESOLUTION NO. R2009-56
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD
SUPPORTING RETAINING A FULL-TIME FEDERAL JiJDICIAL
BENCH IN THE GALVESTON FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.
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WHEREAS, on May 26, 1846, John C. Watrous was appointed the first Federal Judge in
Texas, held court in Galveston, with jurisdiction over the entire State; and
WHEREAS, on February 21, 1857, Texas was divided into two Districts, the Eastern
and Western District. Judge Watrous continued to preside in the Eastern District and Judge
Thomas DuVal presided in the Western District. When Texas seceded from the Union, the two
judges left the State and returned once Texas was restored to the Union. They were the only two
southern federal judges who did not resign; and
WHEREAS, since 1846, with the exception far the Civil War period, a Federal Judge
has continuously presided in the Federal Court in Galveston and this Court held and still holds an
important place in the Southern District division; and
WHEREAS, in 1902, the Southern District was created by Act of Congress with Judge
Walter T. Burns presiding; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Bench in Galveston is the oldest Federal Civil Judgment in
Texas and includes Galveston, Brazoria, and Matagorda Counties; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Court in Galveston has an established tradition of litigating
Maritime, FELA, Jones Act, Civil, Criminal, and Bankruptcy cases on its unique docket; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Court in Galveston allowed plaintiffs and defendants to draw
their jury pool of citizens from Brazoria, Matagorda, Chambers, and Galveston Counties; and
WHEREAS, the sitting Federal Judge in Galveston announced his resignation from
bench effective June 30t"2009, which was accepted by the President of the United States; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the State of Texas and the Federal Judiciary to
preserve the historical significance by retaining the Galveston Bench, and to provide this historic
judicial forum to litigants, by having a Federal Judge, with full staff, continue to sit in the oldest
federal court building location in Texas; and
WHEREAS, the Galveston division has a significant number of cases filed annually as
reported by the Federal Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FRIENDSWOOD,TEXAS:
Section 1. The findings and recitations set out in the preamble to this Resolution are
found to be true and correct and are hereby adopted by the Executive Committee and made a part
hereof for all purposes.
Section 2. The City Council of the City of Friendswood hereby urges that everyone
receiving a copy of this Resolution actively support the retention of the full-time Federal Judicial
Bench in the Galveston Federal Courthouse.
Section 3. The City Council of the City of Friendswood hereby directs the City Secretary
to send a copy of this Resolution to President Barack Obama, Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison
and John Cornyn, U.S. Representatives Ron Paul, Gene Green and Sheila Jackson Lee; Governor
Rick Perry, State Senators Mike Jackson and Joan Huffman, and State Representatives Craig
Eiland and Larry Taylor.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.
PASSED,APPROVED AND RESOLVED on this Sth day of October,2009.
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David J. H. Smith
Mayor
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D oris McKenzie, T C v o
City Secretary * *
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R2009-56 �4rF F t�'�'�