Myron H. Bright Papers, 1968-2016

Myron H. Bright Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Myron H. Bright Papers, 1968-2016

ID: OGLMC877

Primary Creator: Bright, Myron H. (1919-2016)

Extent: 190.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 07/18/1983. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Legal

Languages: English

Abstract

1919-2016; Judge on the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1968 to 2016

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Myron H. Bright Papers consist of Bright's chambers papers, which include correspondence and memoranda between Judge Bright and other judges, memoranda from his law clerks, oral argument and conference notes, and draft and final versions of rulings. The legal citation is indicated for most cases.

Judge Bright’s notable rulings included:

-the Reserve Mining cases 514 F.2d 492 (8th Cir. 1975): These cases upheld the right of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate corporate pollution, a practice unheard of before the lawsuit. Materials from these cases are found in Series 7 (Boxes 7 and 8), as well as Series 9 (Box 20) and Series 10 (Box 23).

-Chapman v. Meier 372 F. Supp. 371 (D.N.D. 1974): This case regarded the legality of federal court ordered reapportionment of the North Dakota Legislature. Materials from the case are found in Series 8 (Box 14).

-Walker v. Lockhart 726 F.2d 1238 (8^th Cir. 1984): This case freed a wrongly imprisoned, death row inmate after 23 years of confinement in Arkansas. Materials from the case are found in Series 15 (Box 51).

Collection Historical Note

"Myron H. Bright, 97, died peacefully on December 12, 2016 at the Eventide Fargo Senior Living Facility surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

Myron was born March 5, 1919 to Morris and Lena Bright in Eveleth, MN. He and his four siblings grew up in the hearty Iron Range of northern Minnesota. The Bright family was a staple of the Jewish community in the Iron Range and Myron has maintained a deep connection and close ties to the area throughout his life.

Myron attended Eveleth High School and graduated from Eveleth Junior College before going on to the University of Minnesota for his undergraduate and law degrees. His college days were interrupted by World War II, during which he honorably served his country as a Captain in the Army Air Corps, stationed in India.

He met Frances (Fritzie) Reisler in 1945 and they were married December 1946. After Myron’s graduation from law school, the couple moved to Fargo, ND in 1947 where they would make their home for the next 71 years. They were “partners” in every sense of the word until Fritzie’s death in October 2000. Myron and Fritzie were active members of the Fargo community and were involved in Democratic politics locally and state wide.

Myron joined the law firm of Wattam, Vogel and Vogel which became Wattam, Vogel, Vogel, Bright and Peterson and is now known as Vogel Law Firm. He had a 21 year career as a successful trial attorney, representing a variety of clients throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

In 1968 Myron was appointed as an Appellate Judge on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals for the United States by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Over the course of his judicial career, he presided over more than 7,000 cases and authored more than 3,000 opinions. He was famous for his ground-breaking rulings in the field of civil rights and employment discrimination. Judge Bright complemented his judicial career with a strong involvement in legal education. His awards and accolades are too numerous to mention here. At his death he was the longest serving jurist on the Eighth Circuit.

Myron and Fritzie purchased what has come to be known as the “Little Brown Cottage” on Lake Melissa in Detroit Lakes, MN in 1968. From that date to the present it has become the perennial summer home for the entire Bright clan. Myron’s summers at the Lake were not to be interfered with and all who visited were welcomed to enjoy the full Bright family hospitality. He enjoyed golfing at the Detroit Lakes CC, tennis and most especially, walleye fishing with family and friends. He was fond of bird watching at the Lake and quite serious about tending to his bird feeders. He and Fritzie were accomplished Bridge and Cribbage players, often hosting their friends for games of cards.

When he wasn’t working or at the Lake, you could find Myron behind the pages of any newspaper, the New Yorker or a good book. His mind never stopped. He had an incredible memory and the astonishing ability to recall the smallest details of events that took place years ago. He was a friend to all he met and a gift of wisdom and advice to all those who knew him.

Myron loved and cherished his family. He referred to them as “the family,” using a formal tone, as if it were an official title. “The family” included not only his immediate one, but also the more than 100 law clerks who served him during his 48 years on the bench. He looked forward with great anticipation to the law clerk reunions, which were held every 5 years during his time as a judge.

He was known by many titles; Judge, Myron, Mike, Dad, Pops and Poppop. One of his most prized titles was “author,” having written and published his autobiography, Goodbye Mike, Hello Judge: My Journey for Justice in 2014. He was an avid sports fan; following the NDSU Bison, UND, the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins. He was a supporter of the arts; including the FM Symphony and FM Opera. He was the oldest member of Temple Beth El.

He is survived by his family who loved him dearly; daughter, Dinah (Christian) Golding of Fargo, ND; son, Joshua Bright of Excelsior, MN; grandchildren; Amy (Jim) Long of Fargo, ND, Sarianne (Brock) Dickson of Harwood, ND and Adam (Kimberly) Schultz of Shorewood, MN; great-grandchildren; William Bright, Connor James and Henry Elliot Long, Collins Frances and Maxum Brock Dickson; Mason Myron and Addison Marie Schultz; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Bright; parents, Morris and Lena Bright; brothers, Leo Bright, Roy Bright and Joe Bright; and sister, Mabel Bright Manfield."

Source: http://boulgerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/judge-myron-bright/

Subject/Index Terms

Legal

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals:

Judge Bright made numerous additions:

May 1984 (84-1298); November 1985 (85-1424); May 1986 (85-1445); February 1988 (88-1581); August 1989 (89-1678); May 1990 (90-1698); September 1990; April 1991 (91-1745); October 1991 (91-1791); November 1992 (92-1851); October 1993 (93-1918); April 1995 (95-2012); November 1997 (97-2154); June 1999 (99-2359); August 1999 (99-2371); March 2000 (2000-2426); October 2001 (2001-2531); October 2002 (2002-2579); February 2003 (2003-2609); June 2005 (2005-2756); September 2006 (2006-2865); January 2009 (2009-2960); August 2009 (2009-2969); January 2012 (2012-3148); July 2014 (2014-3256); May 2016 (2016-3309); March 2017 (2017-3335).

The collection was closed until the death of Judge Myron Bright on December 12, 2016.

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Myron Bright, Fargo, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; 83-1167

Related Publications: Goodbye Mike, Hello Judge: My Journey for Justice. by Myron H. Bright. Fargo: Institute for Regional Studies Press, 2014.

Preferred Citation: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections. Chester Fritz Library. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Processing Information: Processing of the collection began in 2022.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Biographical Material],
[Series 2: 1968],
[Series 3: 1969],
[Series 4: 1970],
[Series 5: 1971],
[Series 6: 1972],
[Series 7: 1973],
[Series 8: 1974],
[Series 9: 1975],
[Series 10: 1976],
[Series 11: 1977],
[Series 12: 1978],
[Series 13: 1979],
[Series 14: 1980],
[Series 15: 1981],
[Series 16: 1982],
[Series 17: 1983],
[Series 18: 1984],
[Series 19: 1985],
[Series 20: 1986],
[Series 21: 1987],
[Series 22: 1988],
[Series 23: 1989],
[Series 24: 1990],
[Series 25: 1991],
[Series 26: 1992],
[Series 27: 1993],
[Series 28: 1994],
[Series 29: 1995],
[Series 30: 1996],
[Series 31: 1997],
[Series 32: 1998],
[Series 33: 1999],
[Series 34: 2000],
[Series 35: 2001],
[Series 36: 2002],
[Series 37: 2003],
[Series 38: 2004],
[Series 39: 2005],
[Series 40: 2006],
[Series 41: 2007],
[Series 42: 2008],
[Series 43: 2009],
[Series 44: 2010],
[Series 45: 2011],
[Series 46: 2012],
[Series 47: 2013],
[Series 48: 2014],
[Series 49: 2015],
[Series 50: 2016],
[All]

Series 39: 2005

Box 140

Folder 17: 05-1125: USA v. Valentine Onwubiko Obasi: 435 F.3d 847 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 18: 05-1328: USA v. Thomas Wilson
Folder 19: 05-1378: USA v. Amanda Black
Folder 20: 05-1405: Charles Geach v. Michael Chertoff, U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security, et al.: 444 F.3d 940 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 21: 05-1469 and 05-1471: A&L Laboratories, Inc. v. Bou-Matic LLC: 429 F.3d 775 (8th Cir. 2005)
Folder 22: 05-1502: USA v. Julian McClain
Folder 23: 05-1557: USA v. Michael John Walker: 428 F.3d 1165 (8th Cir. 2005)
Folder 24: 05-1791: Tory Worum Lund v. County of Hennepin, Minnesota, et al.: 427 F.3d 1123 (8th Cir. 2005)
Folder 25: 05-1919: USA v. Derrick John Hushman
Folder 26: 05-2905: Oakley Bernard Engesser v. Bob Dooley, Warden, et al.: 457 F.3d 731 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 27: 05-2932: First Union National Bank v. Pictet Overseas Trust Corp.: 477 F.3d 616 (8th Cir. 2007)
Folder 28: 05-3012: State of Minnesota v. John Hoeven, Governor of North Dakota, and Terry Steinwand, Director of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department: 456 F.3d 826 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 29: 05-3686: Nitro Distribusting, Inc., et al. v. Alticor, Inc.: 453 F.3d 995 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 30: 05-3816: USA v. Gerald Dacre
Folder 31: 05-3828: Brandon Buster v. USA: 447 F.3d 1130 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 32: 05-3832: Robert Karlix v. Jo Anne Barnhart, U.S. Commissioner of Social Security, etc.: 457 F.3d 742 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 33: 05-3870: Sheryl Osborn v. Prudential Insurance Company of America: 453 F.3d 1077 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 34: 05-3917: USA v. Morris Likens: 464 F.3d 823 (8th Cir. 2006)

Box 141

Folder 1: 05-4021: Byron Morales v. John Ault (Folder 1/2): 476 F.3d 545 (8th Cir. 2007)
Folder 2: 05-4021: Byron Morales v. John Ault (Folder 2/2)
Folder 3: 05-4216: USA v. Aaron Duane Rees: 447 F.3d 1128 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 4: 05-4232: USA v. Walter Sewell: 457 F.3d 841 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 5: 05-4234 and 06-1750: American Home Assurance v. Kelly Pope and 05-4238: American Home Assurance v. C. Robert Buckley: 487 F.3d 590 (8th Cir. 2007)
Folder 6: 05-4251: Lorraine Lacroix v. Jo Anne Barnhart, U.S. Commissioner of Social Security, etc.: 465 F.3d 881 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 7: 05-4274: James Weber v. Iowa State Bank and Trust Company: 457 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2006)
Folder 8: 05-4289: USA v. Matias Leanos-Marquez
Folder 9: 05-4322: USA v. Robert Lee Bailey
Folder 10: 05-4357: USA v. Hector Alba-Esqueda
Folder 11: 05-1129: Fatime Shahinlli and Ervin Shahinlli v. U.S. Attorney General (3rd Circuit)
Folder 12: 05-1173: USA v. Maxwell Duncan (3rd Circuit)
Folder 13: 05-1256: USA v. Calvin William (3rd Circuit)
Folder 14: 05-2262, 05-2268, 05-2269 and 05-2426: Kathleen Bowers v. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al. (3rd Circuit): 475 F.3d 524 (3rd Cir. 2007)
Folder 15: 05-2586: Larry Lawrence v. U.S. Attorney General (3rd Circuit)
Folder 16: 05-3008: Lao Dao Her v. U.S. Attorney General (3rd Circuit)
Folder 17: 05-3057: Carlos Bezabe v. U.S. Attorney General (3rd Circuit)
Folder 18: 05-3228: Ana Larrahondo v. U.S. Attorney General (3rd Circuit)
Folder 19: 05-3435: Robert Troy Warriner Jr. v. Robert P. Stanton (3rd Circuit): 475 F.3d 497 (3rd Cir. 2007)
Folder 20: 05-3480: Danette Bilyeu v. City of Ocean City Police Department (3rd Circuit)
Folder 21: 05-4038: USA v. Naipaul Chatterpaul (3rd Circuit)
Folder 22: 05-4102: USA v. Charles Navarro (3rd Circuit): 476 F.3d 188 (3rd Cir. 2007)
Folder 23: 05-4133: Antonio D. Watson v. Abington Township (3rd Circuit): 478 F.3d 144 (3rd Cir. 2007)
Folder 24: 05-4490: Marissa F. v. The William Penn School District (3rd Circuit)
Folder 25: 05-4495: Steven Drive Liwe v. U.S. Attorney General (3rd Circuit)
Folder 26: 05-4518: USA v. Ivan Constant (3rd Circuit)
Folder 27: 05-4641: USA v. Michael John Selby (3rd Circuit)
Folder 28: 05-4767: USA v. Akiba A. Mercer (3rd Circuit)
Folder 29: 05-4768: USA v. Willie A. Williams (3rd Circuit)
Folder 30: 05-4771: Marisol Moreno v. Commissioner of Social Security (3rd Circuit)
Folder 31: 05-1137: USA v. Felton Mackle (6th Circuit)
Folder 32: 05-1254: Jonny Wallace Gumble v. Waterford Township (6th Circuit)
Folder 33: 05-1508: Troy Ogle v. Rick Hocker (6th Circuit)
Folder 34: 05-1546: USA v. Richard Henderson (6th Circuit)
Folder 35: 05-5522: Michael Bezark v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc (6th Circuit)
Folder 36: 05-10114: USA v. John Andrew Gilbreath (9th Circuit)
Folder 37: 05-10180: USA v. Stephan Remy Muller (9th Circuit)
Folder 38: 05-10468: USA v. Roberto Aguilar-Escobedo (9th Circuit)
Folder 39: 05-10671: USA v. Qing Chang Jiang (9th Circuit)
Folder 40: 05-10690: USA v. Raymond Nauta Reyes (9th Circuit)
Folder 41: 05-10759: USA v. Patrick Jason Delaney (9th Circuit)
Folder 42: 05-10765: USA v. Troy Apeland (9th Circuit)

Box 142

Folder 1: 05-1500: Lisa Stilwell v. Smith & Nephew, Inc (9th Circuit): 482 F.3d 1187 (9th Cir. 2007)
Folder 2: 05-16466: USA v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers Coop (9th Circuit)
Folder 3: 05-50128: USA v. Roderick Keith McDonald (9th Circuit)
Folder 4: 05-50306: USA v. Keith Burks (9th Circuit)
Folder 5: 05-50332: USA v. Chin Leong Lee (9th Circuit)
Folder 6: 05- 50459: USA v. Jeffrey Douglas Walker (9th Circuit)
Folder 7: 05-50668: USA v. David Reyes-Aguirre (9th Circuit)
Folder 8: 05-50977: USA v. Alfred J. Koonin (9th Circuit)
Folder 9: 05-55111: Ronald Willis Lewis v. Art Calderon (9th Circuit)
Folder 10: 05-55301: USA v. Thomas Edward Williams (9th Circuit)
Folder 11: 05-55655: Charles Franklin Murdoch Jr. v. Roy Castro (9th Circuit) (Folder 1/2): 489 F.3d 1063 (9th Cir. 2007)
Folder 12: 05-55655: Charles Franklin Murdoch Jr. v. Roy Castro (9th Circuit) (Folder 2/2): 489 F.3d 1063 (9th Cir. 2007)
Folder 13: 05-55788: Miguel Angel Soto-Islas v. Alberto Gonzales (9th Circuit)
Folder 14: 05-55929: Chet Randall Pruitt v. C.K. Pliler (9th Circuit)
Folder 15: 05-56074: Joseph R. Giannini v. State Bar of California (9th Circuit)
Folder 16: 05-56076: Sprint Telephony PCS, L.P. & Pacific Bell Wireless LLC v. County of San Diego (9th Circuit) (Folder 1/2): 479 F.3d 1061 (9th Cir. 2007)
Folder 17: 05-56076: Sprint Telephony PCS, L.P. & Pacific Bell Wireless LLC v. County of San Diego (9th Circuit) (Folder 2/2): 479 F.3d 1061 (9th Cir. 2007)
Folder 18: 05-56540: Gregory Edward Eastman v. Jeanne Woodford (9th Circuit)
Folder 19: 05-70505: Norberto Salazar-Luviano v. Michael Mukasey (9th Circuit): 551 F.3d 857 (9th Cir. 2008)
Folder 20: 05-74216: Hugo Chavez v. Eric Holder (9th Circuit)
Folder 21: 05-74595: Zhilbert Ter-Hohvannisyan v. Eric Holder (9th Circuit)
Folder 22: 05-74882: Boriana Valentino-Kovace v. Eric Holder (9th Circuit)
Folder 23: 05-74904: Serghei Iasibas v. Eric Holder (9th Circuit)
Folder 24: 05-75924: Dorcas Wangari Murithia v. Eric Holder (9th Circuit)
Folder 25: 05-76842: Norma A. Bonilla Colindres v. Eric Holder (9th Circuit)

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