Brian Miller set the tone for his investiture as federal judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas when he appeared in the Richard Arnold Courthouse Friday morning.
As Miller entered the judge’s chambers, he motioned with his palms downward to a packed audience that stood up en masse to “sit down,” relax and enjoy the ceremony.
After the formal investiture, Miller relished the opportunity to express his heart-felt thanks to those who supported him and helped him reach this zenith in his legal career.
I have received so much support from Helena-West Helena,” Miller said. “We have a home in Helena and there are still many people who do not know what I do for a living.
“I love you Helena guys,” Miller said. “My great-grandfather got off the plantation in 1865. We live five blocks from the house where my grandfather died.”
Miller said he learned early on in his life not to forget the common man – those rank-and-file people who are the backbone of America.
“I am a Helena man,” Miller said. He told the Helena Daily World in a recent interview that while he will spend time in Little Rock he would continue to live in Helena. His wife, Monique, is a science teacher for the Barton School District.
Miller, who knows the heat of battle as city attorney and a member of the Memphis firm, Martin, Tate, Morrow and Marston, was well represented by the folks back home in Phillips County, and in particular, Helena.
After all of the platitudes were delivered from aides for U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Rep. John Boozman, the moment arrived when J. Leon Holmes, chief justice for the U.S. District Court, administered the oath of office.
With his mother, Trudy Miller, at his left side and Bible in hand, Miller took the oath. That was followed by the presentation of the judge’s gavel by David Wade, a former law cohort at the Memphis firm.
Wade noted Miller’s “strong work ethics” which are crucial in the appointment of a federal judgeship by the President. Miller’s investiture culminated a lengthy background investigation, which is standard procedure. President George Bush chose Miller from a “short list” of six nominees. The positioned came open when then-District Judge George Howard of Pine Bluff died on April 21, 2007.
Wade said when the U.S. Senate confirmed Miller’s appointment, the Memphis law firm had mixed emotions. The law partners were both pleased for Miller, but a bit saddened to lose a person of Miller’s legal prowess.
The spokesman for Senator Lincoln acknowledged in a letter addressed to Miller and the court that he was replacing a “true pioneer” in Howard.
Ironically, both Lincoln and Pryor were precluded from attending Miller’s investiture due to that of other judges this past week.
Pryor’s chief of staff, Bob Russell, read a statement, which cited Miller’s “temperament” for the judgeship.
Bozeman, who represents Northwest Arkansas and was not familiar with Miller, submitted Miller’s name for the appointment based on information about his qualifications.  Boozman’s letter read by an aide said the entire body of the Senate found no reason to reject the nomination.
Following the oath and presentation of the gavel, Miller’s wife, Monique, and children Adrianne S.  and Alex S. got to put the judge’s robe on Miller.
Holmes concluded the ceremony that took less than an hour when he invited Miller to “take your proper place on the bench” along side the others.
The distinguished jurists included: Holmes, Morris Arnold, Lavenski Smith, Bobby E. Shepherd, Jimm Hendren, G. Thomas Eisele, Susan Webber Wright, William R. Wilson Jr., James M. Moody, Robert T. Dawson, Audrey Evans, Richard D. Taylor, Ben Barry, Henry L. Jones Jr., H. David Young, Jerry W. Cavaneau, J. Thomas Ray, James R. Marschewski, and Barry A. Bryant,
The Rev. Joseph Marconi, pastor for Miller’s home parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, presented the invocation.
Other guests included a family member, Judge Cylenthia LaToye Miller of Detroit.
R. T. Beard III, a good friend of Miller, introduced the newly seated judge.
The investiture committee consisted of John K. Baker, R.T. Beard, Kevin Cross, D. Westbrook Doss, J. Leon Johnson, Troy A. Price, Judge Andree Roaf, Charles B. Roscopf, Edward Schieffler, Brenda
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Stallings, Shea Sisk Wellford, Darrin Williams, E. Dion Wilson and David Solomon.
Solomon, who has been practicing in Helena longer than anyone in memory, surfaced the most notable bit of history about Helena and federal judgeships.
“Brian Miller is only the second Helena native to become a federal judge,” Solomon said. “Jacob Trieber served as federal judge right after the turn of the (20th) Century.”
Solomon said Trieber came to the U.S. as a son of German parents.
“He could serve as federal judge, but could never have been elected president,” Solomon said of Trieber. He cited Calif. Gov. Arnold Swartzenegger was another example of a foreign-born individual who could rise to a high political office, but not as president.
The gala weekend for Miller continued Friday with a social reception held at Wild Hog Saloon.  Miller’s fellow parishioners at St. Mary’s also feted the judge after Mass Sunday with a reception at the parish hall.