In Memoriam, 0719 COBJ, Vol. 48, No. 7 Pg. 72
| Position | Vol. 48, 7 [Page 72] |
In Memoriam
Judge Wiley Young Daniel September 10,1946—May 10, 2019
Christopher J. Kulish April 19, 1957-May26, 2019
Judge Richard Paul Matsch June 8, 1930-May 26, 2019
Richard S. Vermeire August 15, 1944-March 2, 2019
Judge Wiley Young Daniel
Esteemed Federal District Judge Wiley Y. Daniel passed away on May 10, 2019. He was 72.
Judge Daniel was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C. In 1995, when Judge Daniel was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado by President Clinton, he became the first African American to serve on the court. He became chief judge in 2008 and held that role for more than four years. Judge Daniel assumed senior judge status in 2013 and continued to preside over a demanding caseload.
From May 2009 to April 2011, Judge Daniel served as president of the Federal Judges Association, a national organization of over 1,100 Article III federal judges. From August 2013 to April 2015, Judge Daniel was appointed as a special mediator for the City of Detroit's bankruptcy proceeding. From 2013 until his passing, Judge Daniel sat by designation with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also taught courses in trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and he served as a mentor for law students and young attorneys. Additionally, he gave CLE presentations throughout the country.
Before his judgeship, Judge Daniel practiced law for 24 years with a specialty in civil litigation. He served as president of the Colorado Bar Association in 1992-93 (thus far the only African American to serve in that capacity), and he was a past president of the Sam Cary Bar Association and vice president of the Denver Bar Association. He was also a member of the Supreme Court Grievance Committee and a Trustee of the American Inns of Court Foundation.
Judge Daniel was the 2006 recipient of the American Inns of Court Foundation Professionalism Award for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He was honored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Nu Omega Chapter as a 2011 M.O.D.E.L. Award Honoree. In February 2012, he was inducted into the "Blacks in Colorado" Hall of Fame for his pioneering...
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