James D. Todd United States Courthouse

Floor Speech

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Mr. KUSTOFF. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Arkansas for yielding time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation to name the courthouse in honor of a good friend and a good man, the James D. Todd United States Courthouse located at 111 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee.

As a native Tennessean, Judge Todd has dedicated his entire life to his community, to his State, and to this Nation.

A graduate of Lexington High School and Lambuth College, Judge Todd received his master's in combined sciences from the University of Mississippi in 1968.

He then went on to receive his law degree from the University of Memphis, the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1972.

From there, Judge Todd practiced law with the firm of Waldrop, Farmer, Todd and Breen for 9 years before being elected as a State circuit court judge where he served for 2 years.

For almost four decades, Judge Todd worked tirelessly for the people of Jackson and for West Tennessee and, really, for our entire State.

I will note as a point of personal privilege that Judge Todd administered my oath as the United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee in 2006, a moment that I will never forget.

In addition to Judge Todd's time on the bench, he has been involved in the Tennessee Boys Club, was the Jackson Senior League baseball coach, served as the Lambuth College Alumni Association president, and was also chairman for the Goals of Jackson Committee.

Judge Todd has been a respected member of the judiciary in our community in West Tennessee. Judge Todd retired and took inactive status last year. I was proud to join our entire West Tennessee community congratulating him on his years of great work and dedicated service.

If I can for a moment, former Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris, who retired earlier this year from Jackson, Tennessee, who is a friend of Judge Todd, commented when Judge Todd stepped down. This is what Mayor Harris said: ``Respect and talent. There is law enforcement, judges, lawyers, the district attorney--you name it. They all have a healthy respect for Jim Todd. But he is the epitome of what a Federal judge ought to be. He makes decisions based on the law and the Constitution. That is all you can ask for.''

In my opinion, Mayor Harris, his comments are spot on; and for all these reasons, I am proud to have introduced this legislation that honors Judge Todd. I think Chief Judge Tom Anderson of the Western District of Tennessee said it best when he said, ``This is a historic and momentous event for West Tennessee to recognize one of our own and name this outstanding facility after Judge Todd.''

Lastly, if I could, I thank every member of the Tennessee delegation, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and all of my Tennessee colleagues for supporting this legislation.

As such, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the legislation to honor the life and the legacy of Judge James D. Todd.

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