Colleagues of U.S. Circuit Judge Ted Milburn, whose death was announced Friday, remember his distinguished service to the rule of law and their own memories of a friend who rightfully earned the respect and admiration of others through his work.
"He was a good man," said Max Bahner, a practicing lawyer in Chattanooga. "He had a distinguished career as a jurist and he and his wife have both been good friends."
Milburn, a longtime-Chattanoogan, began practicing law in the city in 1959, quickly becoming a partner at a firm that became Bishop, Thomas, Leitner, Mann and Milburn. In 1973, Gov. Winfield Dunn appointed him a Circuit Court judge in Hamilton County, and he was reelected with no opposition twice.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed Milburn as a judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, sitting in Chattanooga. The following year, Reagan named him to a newly-created seat as a judge of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He served in that role until 1996, when he took senior status.
Friends and colleagues said Milburn was unfailingly recognized as an upstanding vanguard of justice in the regional and national legal community.
"His lodestar was that he was dedicated to the rule of law," said Sam Elliott, another Chattanooga lawyer. "He was someone who really appreciated what lawyers did for society and he was someone who felt like the practice of law was a privilege."
Steve Powers said one thing that set Milburn apart and made him so easy to respect was his kindness and humility. Powers recalled a time early in his career when he argued before the judge in Circuit Court, and Milburn dressed him down in open court for presenting an argument the judgedisagreed with.
"Three or four days later he called me and apologized for the way he reacted to my motion and the way he had handled me in front of everybody," Powers recounted. "He said, 'You are correct, and I'm going to grant your motion and this case is dismissed.'"
"That told me a lot about Judge Milburn."
Contact staff writer Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.