James P. Connelly, who served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington from 1993-2000, passed away on February 14, 2017. He was born in Spokane, Washington. Jim’s family emigrated from Tuam, Ireland in 1860. His father became both a U.S. Attorney and State Supreme Court Judge. Jim attended college at Notre Dame, and Gonzaga University and graduated from Gonzaga Law School. After working as a prosecutor for Spokane County he joined the firm of Cashatt, Williams, Connelly and Rekofke. He later joined his lifelong friends Robert McNicols, Leo Driscoll and Mike Cronin to form the law firm of Winston Cashatt. Throughout his career he was known as a fierce and brilliant trial lawyer, a passion he shared with many attorneys throughout his career. He retired from private practice and taught for a short time at Gonzaga Law School before following in his father’s footsteps and was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Jim was known for his colorful language, his love of books, his enjoyment of a good gathering with friends and a stiff glass of good scotch. Most important to Jim were his eight children.  Jim and his wife Marianne, enjoyed many wonderful years with his large family, taking trips to the Oregon coast, skiing at Schweitzer, sailing on Lake Pend Orielle, and spending winters at the beach in Coronado, California. Jim is survived by his wife Marianne; his eight children and their spouses, Patrick (Laurie), Michael (Sue), Anne (Gordon Connelly-Chew), Lisa (Kubi Ibrahim), Mary (Jim Doherty), Matt (Kristi), Cara (Ahmad Mohammadian) and Kathleen (Tom Arnold); 21 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and his cousin Kathy Connelly.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 18 at St. Aloysius Church at 10:00am, followed immediately by a reception at Cataldo Hall. As is our custom, NAFUSA arranged for an American flag to be flown over Main Justice on February 15 in Jim’s honor, and it will be presented to his family as a token of the regard with which he was held by his colleagues. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name can be made to Volunteers of America, Crosswalk Shelter.

Michael A. Johns passed away on January 13, 2017, in Phoenix. Mike served as the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1997-1998, and spent his entire professional career in the United States Attorney’s Office. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Susan; and their children, Kevin, Emily Jagodzinski and Ryan; and two grandchildren, Aiden and Allie Jagodzinski. A funeral mass will be held Friday, January 27, 2017, at 11 am at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Phoenix with a Celebration of Life service at noon in the church hall. As is our custom, an American flag was flown over Main Justice at NAFUSA’s request and will be present to Mike’s family by his friend, NAFUSA member Jose de Jesus Rivera.

NAFUSA life member George Beall, 79, died on Sunday in Naples Florida. Beall was best known for his prosecution of Vice President Spiro Agnew, which led to Agnew’s resignation in 1973. Beall served as the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland (1970-1975).

Beall graduated from Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He clerked for Chief Judge Simon E. Sobeloff of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. After his government service, he was a partner at the law firm of Hogan Lovells until his retirement several years ago.

Beale is survived by his wife Carolyn Campbell; a daughter, Rebecca Beall DiSabato; two step-sons, James C. Alban IV and Nicholas Guy Alban; a step-daughter, Tobey Frederick; 16 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Click here to read the New York Times obituary

As is our custom, NAFUSA will arrange to have an American flag flown over Main Justice in George’s honor and presented to the family as a token of the appreciation in which he was held by his colleagues.

Henry Oncken, who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, 1985-1990, passed away on December 21, 2016.  He attended the University of Houston and received his JD from the Bates College of Law. His career began at Humble Oil (Exxon) and then with the District Attorney’s Office. He served as a Harris County District Court Judge before his appointment in 1985 as  U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. In retirement, Henry worked as a visiting judge in the Harris County Criminal Courts. He loved the outdoors and looked forward to spending each hunting season with his friends and family.

He is survived by his wife Jackie, daughter Leah, son-in-law Jon, grandchildren Nathan and Ava and brothers Bill and Gary. 

A Celebration of Life was held on December 28, 2016 in Houston, Texas. After the service, a reception will be held at the church followed by the gravesite service. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to The Gladney Center, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Ft. Worth, Texas 76132.

As is our custom,  NAFUSA has arranged for an American flag to be flown over Main Justice in Henry’s honor and it will be presented to his family as a token of the high regard with which he was held by his colleagues.

 

Judge Ernie Williams, who served as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, died this week.  Judge Williams is a veteran who upon graduating high school entered the United States Marine Corps and served there from 1965 until 1969. His service included a tour in Vietnam as well as being selected as a member of the Marine Corps Color Guard in Washington, D.C. As such, he served at the White House and was ultimately honorably discharged as a sergeant.

Judge Williams returned from the Marine Corps and graduated from the University of Tennessee in December of 1974. He obtained his doctorate of jurisprudence from the Nashville School of Law in May of 1980. He ultimately moved to Franklin Tennessee and opened his own law practice where he quickly gained a reputation for being a skilled trial lawyer. President George H.W. Bush selected him to be the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee in 1991. In that role, he supervised the United States Attorney’s office in Nashville which was comprised of 75 employees and 19 assistant United States attorneys.

Judge Williams was considered to be a hands-on US attorney, actively involved in the trying of cases. These cases involved all types of federal crimes including large drug cases, sexual offenses, kidnappings and murders.

Upon leaving the United States Attorney’s office, he returned to Franklin, Tennessee where he resumed his private practice. He and his wife Nancy were very active in the community and assumed many leadership roles. His wife served on the County Commission until her untimely death in 2002. At that time, the County Commission appointed Judge Williams to fill her vacancy. He was elected to two successive terms following his appointment to represent the 9th Commissioner, he chaired numerous committees, including the budget committee. He is past chairman and board member of My Friends House, an organization that houses and assists at-risk youth throughout the community. He has also served on numerous professional legal associations. He was a Certified Supreme Court Rule 31 Civil and Family Law Mediator.

Prior to establishing Williams, Beal & Nations in 2013 in Franklin, Tennessee, Judge Williams was appointed as presiding judge of the Williamson County General Sessions Court, Division II. The General Sessions Court hears all types of small claims civil suits as well as criminal matters. As a General Sessions Judge, Judge Williams had the authority to dispose of misdemeanor cases and determine whether probable cause existed for felony charges to be brought before the Circuit Court.

Judge Williams lived in Williamson County and been a practicing attorney for 34 years. There are few attorneys in the Middle Tennessee area that have not had cases against him, mediated by him or appeared in front of him. He is survived by three children and five grandchildren.

As is our custom, NAFUSA will request that an American flag be flown over Main Justice in Judge Williams honor as a token of the high regard with which he was held by his colleagues.

Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as attorney general of the United States, died this morning at her home in Miami-Dade County, Florida, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch released the following statement:

With the passing of Janet Reno, the Department of Justice has lost one of the most effective, decisive and well-respected leaders in its proud history.  From her years in state law enforcement to her long and eventful tenure as Attorney General, Janet Reno always strove, as she put it, to do her ‘level best.’  She led the department in a time of turmoil and change, confronting issues ranging from international and domestic terrorism to fair competition in the emerging technology sector.  In meeting these challenges, she was guided by one simple test: to do what the law and the facts required.  She accepted the results of that test regardless of which way the political winds were blowing.  She never shied from criticism or shirked responsibility, earning her the affection of her subordinates, the respect of her critics, and the esteem of the American people.  And of course, as the first woman to serve as attorney general, she was an inspiration and a trailblazer for so many women working in law enforcement and government — including me.  The United States is a stronger, safer and more just place because of Janet Reno’s leadership, and she will be dearly missed.

Earlier this year, NAFUSA became a Founding Donor of the Janet Reno Endowment at Georgetown University, having made a $10,000 contribution.

NAFUSA member Robert J. Del Tufo, 82, died on March 2, 2016, of lung cancer. Del Tufo served as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, 1977-1980 and as the New Jersey Attorney General, 1990-1993. His older brother, Raymond Del Tufo, also served as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Del Tufo joined Sadden, Arps, Slate, Meager & Flom in 1993, where he remained until his death.

Del Tufo attended Princeton University and Yale Law School. He was a legal secretary to Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub on the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1958 to 1960.

He is survived by his wife, Kate Del Tufo, daughters Ann Jackopin and Barbara, sons Robert J. Jr. and David, and stepdaughters Caitlin Hughes and Johanna Hunsbedt. He was predeceased by his first wife, Ann.

Funeral arrangements are pending. As is our custom, NAFUSA will request the Department of Justice to fly an American flag over Main Justice in Bob’s honor and it will be presented to his family as a token of the high regard with which Bob was held by his colleagues.

NAFUSA member Redding Pitt died on Sunday, February 7, 2016. Pitt, 71, served as the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, 1994-2001. He also served as the chief deputy attorney general for the State of Alabama and chaired the Alabama Democrat Party from 2001 to 2005.

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