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 37: 2003

Box 136

Folder 1: 03-1004: Abdul Rahman Hassan v. John Ashcroft, U.S. Attorney General: 388 F.3d 661 (8th Cir. 2004)
Folder 2: 03-1126: USA v. Kenneth White: 356 F.3d 865 (8th Cir. 2004)
Folder 3: 03-1142: USA v. Derrick D. Scott
Folder 4: 03-1165: Mohammad Younas v. John Ashcroft, U.S. Attorney General
Folder 5: 03-1209: Stephen Brueggemann v. Jo Anne Barnhart, U.S. Commissioner of Social Security: 348 F.3d 689 (8th Cir. 2003)
Folder 6: 03-1369: Linda Schilcher v. University of Arkansas: 387 F.3d 959 (8th Cir. 2004)
Folder 7: 03-1544/1545/1456: Halul v. John Ashcroft, U.S. Attorney General (3rd Circuit)
Folder 8: 03-1624: USA v. Russell St. Clair (6th Circuit)
Folder 9: 03-1685: Public Water Supply District No.10 v. City of Peculiar, Missouri
Folder 10: 03-1715/04-1068: DRG, Inc. v. Talent Tree, Inc.
Folder 11: 03-1743: Carroll F. Dixon v. Jo Anne Barnhart
Folder 12: 03-1811: USA v. Seth Murdock
Folder 13: 03-1834: USA v. Frankie Lee Chappell
Folder 14: 03-1997: John Clevenger v. R.E. Gartner
Folder 15: 03-2164: Taddese Lencho Gemechu v. John Ashcroft
Folder 16: 03-2323: Kalamazoo Acquisitions v. Westfield Ins. Co (6th Circuit)
Folder 17: 03-2292: Mercy Catholic Medical Center v. Tommy G. Thompson (3rd Circuit)
Folder 18: 03-2308: USA v. Martha Alvarado-Rivera/ 03-2374 USA v. Gilberto Moya-Vega
Folder 19: 03-2320: Ellis Crossely v. Georgia-Pacific Corp.
Folder 20: 03-2379: Motion Control Corp. v. SICK Inc.
Folder 21: 03-2437: Jeffrey Lui v. Commission on Adult Entertainment
Folder 22: 03-2534: John J. Evans v. Pennsylvania Power & Light Company (3rd Circuit)
Folder 23: 03-2578: James Harvey v. Jo Anne B. Barnhart
Folder 24: 03-2673: USA v. Keith Clayton Mesner
Folder 25: 03-2688/2762: USA v. George Dobbs & Raymond Leatham
Folder 26: 03-2795: Beverly A. Liszewski v. Target Corp.
Folder 27: 03-2805: Orrin Skretvedt v. El DuPont De Nemours
Folder 28: 03-2819: USA v. Jose G. Diaz-Diaz
Folder 29: 03-2929: ISPCO Steel v. Blaine/ 03-2966 Blaine v. ISPCO Steel
Folder 30: 03-2949: Ahlam Khalil v. Otto Boxk Orthopadische
Folder 31: 03-2954/3098: Kimberly Crump v. Versa Products, Inc.
Folder 32: 03-2962: Elijah Ateka v. John Ashcroft
Folder 33: 03-2989/3965: USA v. Michael Gianakos
Folder 34: 03-2989/3965: USA v. Michael Gianakos
Folder 35: 03-3011: USA v. Gary Lynn Moeller
Folder 36: 03-3012: United Hospital v. Tommy G. Thompson
Folder 37: 03-3019: Genet Giazaw Zwedie v. John Ashcroft
Folder 38: 03-3109/3110: IPSCO Steel (Alabama), Inc. v. Blaine Constr.
Folder 39: 03-3112: Rita Mulcahy v. Cheetah Learning LLC
Folder 40: 03-3115: City Of Marshall v. Heartland Consumers Power Dist.
Folder 41: 03-3260: Enervations, Inc. v. Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co.
Folder 42: 03-3313: Elizabeth Ramirez v. Joanne Barnhart (3rd Circuit)
Folder 43: 03-3426: Traci Miskel v. James Karnes
Folder 44: 03-3427: USA v. Maurice Deshaun Powell
Folder 45: 03-3433/3434: USA v. Ulises Ariel Lopez & Israel Gonzales-Lara

Box 137

Folder 01: 03-3438: John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. v. Factory Mutual
Folder 02: 03-3441/3448/3470/3566: Winterville Marine Services, Inc. v. Patricia Jackson
Folder 03: 03-3472: Mac Arthur Kammueller v. Loomis, Fargo & Co.
Folder 04: 04-3529: Jerry W. Bender v. Eugene Regier, M.D.
Folder 05: 03-3533: USA v. Christopher Michael Mohr
Folder 06: 03-3587: Fuqua Homes, Inc. v. Raymond Beattie
Folder 07: 03-3627/3863: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. NLRP
Folder 08: 03-3631: Vincent Jordan v. Patrick Hurley
Folder 09: 03-3640: USA v. Norman Eugene Van Zee
Folder 10: 03-3688: USA v. Simitrio Jaimes Aviles
Folder 11: 03-3698: USA v. Samuel J. Marranca
Folder 12: 03-3766: USA v. David Hernandez
Folder 13: 03-3802: The Recording Industry Association of America v. Charles Communications, Inc.
Folder 14: 03-3803: Sirti Limited Corp. v. The Travelers Indemnity Co.
Folder 15: 03-3824/3825: B-T Dissolution Inc. v. Provident Life
Folder 16: 03-384: USA v. Chaim Isaac Spero: 382 F.3d 803 (8th Cir. 2004)
Folder 17: 03-3892: USA v. Antonio Cedillo Aguilar
Folder 18: 03-3895: USA v. Christopher McFarlane
Folder 19: 03-3961: Roderick Nunley v. Michael Bowersox: 394 F.3d 1079 (8th Cir. 2005)
Folder 20: 03-3961: Roderick Nunley v. Michael Bowersox: 394 F.3d 1079 (8th Cir. 2005)
Folder 21: 03-3993: Bob McIntosh v. Monsanto Company: 400 F.3d 562 (8th Cir. 2005)
Folder 22: 03-3993: Bob McIntosh v. Monsanto Co.: 400 F.3d 562 (8th Cir. 2005)
Folder 23: 03-4004: Jeraldine Cole v. The May Department Stores Company
Folder 24: 03-4096: Douglas Parks v. City of Columbus
Folder 25: 03-4229: Harvey Carrasco v. NOAMTC Inc.
Folder 26: 03-4252: Hazel Golden v. City of Columbus: 404 F.3d 950, 2005 WL 873321 (6th Cir. 2005)
Folder 27: 03-4258: Jeffrey McKinley v. City of Mansfield: 404 F.3d 418 (6th Cir. 2005)
Folder 28: 03-4458/03-4542: Stilson & Assoc. v. Stilson Consulting
Folder 29: 03-4460: Igor Kornetski v. John Ashcroft
Folder 30: 03-6426: Processing Systems v. United Mine Workers of America
Folder 31: 03-6667: USA v. Rhonda Bivens
Folder 32: 03-2815/2816: American Home Assurance Co. v. Kelly Pope
Folder 33: 03-3680: Don and Theresa Adams v. Teamsters Local 115
Folder 34: 03-3888: Brian Douglas v. William J. Wolf
Folder 35: 03-1-180: Westwood Community Two Association, Inc. v. Linda Menzano
Folder 36: 03-10438: USA v. Curtis R. Martin, Jr.
Folder 37: 03-11655: Kenneth Eggleston v. Ed Bieluch
Folder 38: 03-12149: George Alan Lewis v. James Crosby
Folder 39: 03-13992: USA v. James P. Hornaday
Folder 40: 03-14816: Allen C. Ewing & Co. v. Synovus Financial Corp.
Folder 41: 03-14850: Juan Manuel Tenorio Ruiz v. Melissa Marie Green Tenorio
Folder 42: 03-15032: Carol Gamble Trust v. E-Rex, Inc.
Folder 43: 03-15158: Pincay Investments Co. v. Charlees D. Chalmers
Folder 44: 03-15840: Ron Burdette v. Butte County
Folder 45: 03-16491: Rafael Mendes Torres v. John Ashcroft
Folder 46: 03-16601: Jerry B. Nutt v. M. Knowles, Warden
Folder 47: 03-16996: Barbara Gizzard v. Kiyoshige Terada
Folder 48: 03-50044: USA v. Jorge Andres Verduzco: 373 F.3d 1022 (9th Cir. 2004)
Folder 49: USA v. Ching Tse Yu
Folder 50: 03-55338: Lisa James v. Gwendolyn Mitchell (9th Circuit)
Folder 51: 03-71303: Gabriel Gonzales Maldonado v. John Ashcroft
Folder 52: 03-71507/71508/71513: Nikolova-Ivaylova v. John Ashcroft
Folder 53: 03-71837: Jia-Jian Jiang v. John Ashcroft (9th Circuit): 425 F.3d 649 (9th Cir. 2005)
Folder 54: 03-71883: Headwaters Forest Defense v. Humboldt County
Folder 55: 03-73853: River City Ranches v. CIR
Folder 56: 03-73891: Eduardo Domingo Renoj Matul v. Alberto Gonzales
Folder 57: 03-74579: Martin Minasyan v. Alberto Gonzales
Folder 58: 03-74587: Aram Muradin v. Alberto Gonzales
Folder 59: 03-74760: Lilit Sayadyan v. Alberto Gonzales

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