U.S. House passes resolution naming Juneau federal courthouse after late Judge Boochever

The U.S. House today (Monday) passed legislation renaming Juneau’s federal courthouse facility after the late Judge Robert Boochever.

Alaska Congressman Don Young briefly spoke about Boochever’s accomplishments on the House floor. The jurist was appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court in 1972, serving three years as Chief Justice. In 1980, he became the first Alaskan to be appointed to the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

While on the state supreme court, Boochever wrote the concurrence opinion in Ravin – the precedent-setting case governing Alaskans’ right to privacy in the home. He also wrote the Glass opinion — the basis for why Alaska police must apply for a warrant before recording your conversations as evidence in a criminal case.

In his spare time Boochever was involved in numeral local civic and volunteer groups, including the American Red Cross, Juneau Rotary, and as chair of the city’s first Planning Commission.

Members of the legal community from around the state gathered in the Capital City earlier this month for a memorial service honoring Boochever, who passed away last October at the age of 94.

Young’s resolution now moves to the U.S. Senate, where Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich have sponsored companion legislation.

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