James Browning

Judge James R. Browning, considered the face of the nation's largest federal appellate court, died on Sunday, May 6, 2012. He was 93. Browning, appointed by President Kennedy, served on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for 50 years, the longest tenure in the court's history, and the San Francisco courthouse was named in his honor. Judge Browning was born in Great Falls and raised in nearby Belt. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marie Rose. The couple met in high school and married soon after he graduated from the University of Montana Law School. Judge Browning is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Scott Sommer, and three grandchildren, Lauren, Greg and Mark Sommer

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 25th at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary with interment to follow at Mountview Cemetery.

The United States Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit has scheduled a special session for September 21, 2012, in San Francisco, to celebrate the life and memory of the late Chief Judge Emeritus James R. Browning. The proceeding will take place at 3 p.m. in the ceremonial Courtroom One of the James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse, 95 7th St., San Francisco

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