Interview with Thomas Russell, October 30, 2017
Project: John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Thomas Banister Russell is a Senior District Judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.In this interview, Judge Russell shares memories about two colleagues on the Western District Court of Kentucky: his predecessor Judge Edward H. Johnstone and Judge Charles Mengel Allen.
On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He took senior status on November 15, 2011. In 2015, he became one of 13 federal judges appointed to the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In 2016, Russell was appointed to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
Judge Johnstone became a District Court Judge for the Western District in 1977, primarily occupying the seat in Paducah (Ky.). He served as chief judge from 1985 to 1990 and assumed senior status in 1993. On June 26, 2013, Judge Johnstone's judicial service was terminated due to his death.
Charles Mengel Allen served on the Western District's federal court from 1971 to 2000. Nominated by President Richard Nixon, Judge Allen was a native of Louisville (Ky.) and succeeded Judge Henry L. Brooks. He served as chief judge from 1977 to 1985, when he assumed senior status. Judge Allen passed away on January 4, 2000.
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All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Russell, Thomas Interview by Anu Kasarabada. 30 Oct. 2017. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Russell, T. (2017, October 30). Interview by A. Kasarabada. John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Russell, Thomas, interview by Anu Kasarabada. October 30, 2017, John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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