To designate the annex building under construction for the Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta, Georgia, as the "John C. Godbold Federal Building".

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4275 to designate the annex building under construction for the Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta, Georgia, as the ``John C. Godbold United States Judicial Administration Building.'' I would also like to commend John Lewis, the sponsor of this resolution, for his commitment to preserving the accomplishments of John C. Godbold.

The recognition of the accomplishments of Judge John C. Godbold is well overdue. John C. Godbold, born in Coy, Alabama, attended Auburn University and graduated in 1940. Shortly thereafter, he attended Harvard Law School. His studies were interrupted however,

by World War II. He put his studies on hold and joined the Army, where he served as a Major in Europe. After the war, he went back to Harvard Law School to achieve his Juris Doctor degree. Upon graduation, Godbold went into private practice with Richard T. Rives. In 1966, Godbold was appointed to serve as a judge on the Fifth Circuit by President Lyndon Johnson.

After numerous attempts to divide the Fifth Circuit, in 1980 the politics finally gave way to the urgency of doing something about the immense workload of the Fifth Circuit. After receiving petitions signed by every district and circuit judge and every bar association within the circuit, Congress conducted formal hearings and approved on October 14, 1980, the division of the court into two circuits. A new smaller Fifth Circuit Court would stay in New Orleans and exercise appellate jurisdiction over cases originating in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, and a brand new Eleventh Circuit would be located in Atlanta and hear cases coming from Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The split became official on October 1, 1981, and the twelve judges living in the Eleventh Circuit states all elected to join that circuit, while the 14 judges living within the new fifth chose to stay with that Circuit. Atlanta was now home to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge John C. Godbold, who had been chief judge of the old Fifth, became chief of the new Eleventh.

This made Judge Godbold the only person in United States history to serve as the Chief Judge on two separate judicial circuits. In 1987, Judge Godbold became the Director of the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C., for a three-year term, after which he returned as a senior judge. The center is the research and training facility of the Federal Judiciary. In 1990, Judge Godbold was honored by being named the Leslie S. Wright Distinguished Professor at the Cumberland Law School in Birmingham. He was also honored with the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award in 1996 and inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2002. The Honorable Judge John C. Godbold died on December 22, 2009, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to resonate in history.

As a member of the Judiciary, Subcommittee Chairman on Courts and Competition Policy, and a former judge myself, I cannot express enough how important this man's life was. He symbolized the epitome of what lawyers and judges strive to be, the character that all of us should strive to show. Please join me and support this resolution to honor Judge John C. Godbold.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4275, as amended, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), to designate the annex building under construction for the Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta, Georgia, as the ``John C. Godbold Federal Building''.

Judge Godbold was a graduate of Auburn University and of Harvard Law School. He was the first person to ever serve as Chief Judge of two different Federal Circuit courts, Judge Godbold assumed senior status in 1987 and served as Director of the Federal Judicial Center from 1987 to 1990. In addition, he was a professor of law at the Cumberland School of Law of Sanford University.

Judge Godbold was also instrumental in devising a process of certifying issues of first impression in Federal court based on state law interpretations, and inviting the state Supreme Court to identify the state law issues and rule on them. Judge Godbold implemented this new procedure in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and now more than 40 states have procedures for the certification of state law issues. Judge Godbold was also a well-respected leader in training Federal jurists and authored several publications that addressed responsible advocacy and the role of the rule of law in our lives.

Judge Godbold died late last year on December 22, 2009. He was a man of immense character, and conducted his court proceedings based on fairness and courtesy. He was a courageous judge and dedicated public servant. It is both fitting and proper that we honor his public service with this designation.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4275.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to yield myself such time as I may consume.

The gentleman from Georgia, I think, just did a great job explaining why we are here today. I'm not going to go through, again, this distinguished American's extensive record of public service. I do want to, though, as the gentleman from Georgia just mentioned, highlight what he just said, that this is the first person to serve as chief judge in two different Federal circuits, which is really a remarkable achievement.

Also, prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Godbold was in private practice, but he also served in the U.S. Army. I always like to highlight when we're here on the floor and we're doing something like naming a building, if, in fact, someone has also served in the U.S. military, which I think is the most noble way to serve our country. I think it's important to highlight.

So again, I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for bringing this bill. I understand that the entire Georgia delegation is not only supporting this legislation but are cosponsors with him. Again, this is an individual who has an extensive record of public service.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague and my friend Mr. Cummings for yielding. I will not take the 5 minutes.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to name the annex building at the United States Courthouse on Forsyth Street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, as the ``John C. Godbold Federal Building.''

Judge John C. Godbold was born in 1920 in Coy, Alabama, about 100 miles to the west of my hometown of Troy.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Judge Godbold to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, a key post due to the many civil rights cases before the circuit during the fifties, the sixties and seventies.

Judge Godbold holds the distinction of being the only judge in the history of the United States to be the chief judge of two separate judicial circuits, the Fifth, and then later the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. It is with this legislation that we recognize the significant achievement of Judge Godbold and thank him for his many years of service to this country.

Madam Speaker, I would especially like to express my sympathy to Judge Godbold's family, friends, and colleagues on the judge's recent passing in December 2009.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4275) to designate the annex building under construction for the Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta, Georgia, as the ``John C. Godbold United States Judicial Administration Building'', as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4275.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I just want to associate myself with the words of both of my colleagues and urge the Members of this body to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.