DeGette Statement On Judge Figa
Denver – Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette made the following tributetoday for her close personal friend United States District Court JudgePhilip Figa, which will be entered into the Congressional Record whenCongress reconvenes for the second session of the 110th Congress:
TRIBUTE TO PHILLIP S. FIGA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
HON. DIANA DeGETTE
OF COLORADO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Ms. DeGETTE. Madame Speaker. I rise to honor the extraordinarylife and exceptional accomplishments of United States District CourtJudge Phillip S. Figa. This exceptional jurist merits both ourrecognition and esteem as his impressive record of civic leadership andinvaluable service has improved the lives of many Coloradoans.
Sadly, Judge Figa was taken from us by a brain tumor at the youngage of fifty-six and he will be greatly missed. His passion for thelaw and justice and his capacity for community service were beyondmeasure. He molded a life of genuine accomplishment and served ournation with distinction. His passing is a great loss to the federalbench and our entire community.
Judge Figa was born in 1951 in Skokie, Illinois, the son ofHolocaust survivors from Poland. He earned a scholarship toNorthwestern University and graduated with a degree in economics. While at Northwestern, he met and married Candace Cole Figa. He wenton to graduate from Cornell Law School and started his law practice inColorado at Sherman & Howard in 1976. Four years later, Judge Figabecame a founding partner of Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. and becamethe firm's President. For over twenty-six years, Judge Figa maintaineda broad litigation-oriented practice and established a nationalreputation as an expert in the field of legal ethics. He was activelyinvolved in the Colorado legal community and served as President of theColorado Bar Association and as Chair of the Ethics Committee. Heserved on the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Committee and on theColorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. He served as an instructorat the University of Denver College of Law and the National Instituteof Trial Advocacy. Judge Figa was also one of the founding members ofthe Faculty of Federal Advocates and is credited with the developmentof the very successful Pro Bono Mentoring Program. As a former Chairof the Mountain States Region of the Anti-Defamation League, Judge Figawas deeply committed to fighting bigotry, extremism, anti-Semitism andsupporting Holocaust awareness.
President Bush nominated Judge Figa to the United States DistrictCourt and he was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 2,2003. During the confirmation process, Senators of both parties viewedhim as highly intelligent and a fair prospective jurist. Many friends,family and associates have praised Judge Figa as "even handed" . . ."smart, caring and authentic" . . . "a great jurist" . . . "a truehumanitarian" . . . "one who brought passion and integrity to the fieldof law " . . . " a humble and gracious man who genuinely cared abouthelping other people." I was honored to give the highestrecommendation to the Senate Judiciary Committee. On a personal note,Judge Figa was a good friend of both me and my husband. He was lovedand respected across the legal community. Judge Figa was a mensch – anupright, honorable and decent human being.
Judge Figa has been recognized with several accolades and honorsincluding nomination to the International Society of Barristers, theAmerican Bar Foundation and the Colorado Bar Foundation. He washonored by the Colorado Supreme Court for "outstanding leadership ofthe Coalition for the Independence of the Colorado Judiciary" and inJanuary of 2006, he was named one of the Leading Judges in America byThe Lawdragon. On February 4th, 2008, the Anti-Defamation League willpresent the late Judge Figa with the Distinguished Community ServiceAward "for his commitment to human rights and dignity, and hisdedicated service to his community, state and nation." Judge Figa liveda life that is rich in consequence and our country is a better placebecause of his labors. Truly, we are all diminished by the all tooearly passing of this remarkable gentleman and our thoughts are withCandace Figa and their two children, Ben and Elizabeth. Please join mein paying tribute to the life of United States District Court JudgePhillip S. Figa, a distinguished jurist. It is the values, leadershipand dedication he exhibited during his life that serves to build abetter future for all of us.