Judge Myron H. Bright

Finding Aid

Biography

The Honorable Myron H. Bright was born June 1968 in Minnesota. He grew to become an accomplished and distinguished Federal judge, whose presiding services can be found in over eight continental district circuits. Judge Bright also commanded an international reputation and influence. He began his career, however, not in law, but military service. A World War II veteran in the Asia-Pacific Theatre, Judge Myron H. Bright completed 4 years of military service as a supply officer serving an Army Air Corps group in China-Burma-India where he rose to the level of captain (Business Wire).

He continued on to receive his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1947, and began practicing the very next year in Fargo, North Dakota (UH Manoa). He practiced for law for 21 years thereafter (UH Manoa). Under the consideration of the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, Judge Bright was appointed to the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eight Circuit where he served at the appellate bench for more than 38 years (UH Manoa). There, Judge Bright served by assignment with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh Circuits, and served as visiting federal trial judge in the District of Minnesota, the Eastern District of Arkansas, the District of North Dakota, the Eastern District of Missouri, and the District of Massachusetts (North Dakota).

In addition to serving on a number of committees – including the Judicial Conference of the United States and the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules – Judge Bright also lectured and wrote extensively in many judicial subjects across several bar journals and legal publications (UH Manoa). From 1985 to 1995, Judge Bright was a distinguished Professor of Law at St. Louis University School of Law (UH Manoa). Then in 2002, he traveled to Sweden and Latvia on behalf of the State Department (North Dakota). There, he lectured to University of Stockholm graduate students, and met with several governmental officials (North Dakota).

Judge Bright also founded the Jurist in Residence program at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and was the 1987 inaugural guest with U.S. Supreme Court Justice John P. Stevens (UH WSRSL). The duo came back as Jurists in Residence again in 1994 (UH WSRSL). Two years later, and then again in 2002, Judge Bright once again visited the law school as Residence, this time along U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy (UH WSRSL). In 2000, Judge Bright accompanied U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia as Juris in Residence, and in 2004 was accompanied by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her husband Martin Ginsburg (UH WSRSL).

The Honorable Myron H. Bright passed away in December 2016 at the age of 97.

Scope and Content

This collection contains a total of 32 memorabilia items that he left with the Law Library for safe keeping. Items include framed pictures, awards, trophies and books.

Access

Items are viewable through the item record. For access, please see the Access page to request a viewing or digital copies of the items.

Bibliography

Business Wire, Judge Myron H. Bright to Receive the American Inns of Court 2012

Professionalism Award for the Eighth Circuit." Business Wire. N.p., 19 July 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120719006534/en/Judge-Myron-H.-Bright-Receive-American-Inns

North Dakota Supreme Court News, "Judge Bright celebrates 50 years of federal service." Judge
Bright celebrates 50 years of federal service. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
https://www.ndcourts.gov/court/news/bright0914.htm

UH Manoa, Retired president of Supreme Court of Israel is visiting jurist at UH Manoa law school." Mānoa: Retired president of Supreme Court of Israel is visiting jurist at UH
Manoa law school | University of Hawaii News. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
https://manoa.hawaii.edu/news/article.php?aId=1696

UH WSRSL, Timeline, William S. Richardson School of Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
https://www.law.hawaii.edu/time-line