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: 0.0

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],
[All]

Series 31: 1997

Box 113

Folder 27: 97-1049: Kenneth Anderson v. Genuine Parts Company, Inc.: 128 F.3d 1267 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 28: 97-1123: Billy Tyler, et al. v. James Murphy, etc., et al.
Folder 29: 97-1188: Howard Jones v. Larry Norris, etc.
Folder 30: 97-1205/1250: Sandra Davis, etc., et al. v. Ford Motor Company: 128 F.3d 631 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 31: 97-1206: USA v. Steve Holloway: 128 F.3d 1254 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 32: 97-1344/97-2235: USA v. Andrew Jones / Felton Sykes (1 of 2)
Folder 33: 97-1344/97-2235: USA v. Andrew Jones / Felton Sykes (2 of 2)

Box 114

Folder 1: 97-1353: John Spradling v. Shirley Chater, et al.: 126 F.3d 1072 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 2: 97-1396/97-1397: Stockmen's Livestock Market, Inc. v. Norwest Bank of Sioux City, NA
Folder 3: 97-1408: Todd Oetken v. John Ault, et al.
Folder 4: 97-1499/97-1503: Charlotte Kraft, et al. v. Ingersoll-Rand Company, etc., et al.
Folder 5: 97-1546: USA v. Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, etc.
Folder 6: 97-1575: Tony Armstrong v. USA: 124 F.3d 208 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 7: 97-1710: Century Indemnity Co., etc. v. Linda Carlson, etc.
Folder 8: 97-1797/1955: The Prudential Insurance Company of America v. John Doe, etc.: 121 F.3d 364 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 9: 97-1826: Terry B. etc., et al. v. Arkansas Department of Human Services, et al.: 131 F.3d 144 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 10: 97-1857: Jerald Kiernan, et al. v. Piper Jaffray Companies, Inc., etc., et al.
Folder 11: 97-1894: John Olinger v. Dennis Larson, et al.
Folder 12: 97-1918: USA v. Kermit Miner: 131 F.3d 1271 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 13: 97-1954: Home Insurance Company v. Waycross, Inc., etc., et al.: 131 F.3d 143 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 14: 97-2012/97-2323: USA v. Raymon Ortega
Folder 15: 97-2066: Leeann Hanna v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Folder 16: 97-2108/97-2111: David St. John, et al. v. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, etc., et al.
Folder 17: 97-2134: Phyllis Titus v. John Callahan, etc.: 133 F.3d 561 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 18: 97-2153: Alexis Herman, etc. v. Mercantile Bank, etc., et al.
Folder 19: 97-2176/97-2177/97-2178: USA v. Harold Jones / James Cashaw / John Palmer
Folder 20: 97-2180: Bryce Hepper v. Adams County, ND
Folder 21: 97-2197: Alexis Herman, etc. v. Mercantile Bank, etc., et al.
Folder 22: 97-2233/97-2234: USA v. Steven Triplett: 104 F.3d 1074 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 23: 97-2379: Mary Davis, etc., et al. v. Francis Howell School District, et al.: 104 F.3d 204 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 24: 97-2416: USA v. Rodney Robles
Folder 25: 97-2433: Paul Kiel v. Select Artificials, Inc.
Folder 26: 97-2690: Alvin Coney, et al. v. Union Pacific Railroad
Folder 27: 97-2782/97-2798: Timothy Johnson, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al.: 110 F.3d 528 (8th Cir. 1997)
Folder 28: 97-2959: James Perkins v. U.S. West Communications
Folder 29: 97-3009: USA v. John Ecker
Folder 30: 97-3010: William Hoffman, et al. v. National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

Box 115

Folder 1: 97-3114: USA v. Harry Michelsen
Folder 2: 97-3197: USA v. Jerry Jensen
Folder 3: 97-3211: Planned Parenthood, etc. v. Steve Ehlmann, et al.
Folder 4: 97-3337: USA v. George Picone
Folder 5: 97-3358: USA v. Bedah Frey
Folder 6: 97-3405: USA v. Tony Best
Folder 7: 97-3427/97-4265: Harold Fife, et al. v. Clarence Harmon, et al
Folder 8: 97-3438: Elsie Mayard v. Dennis Meyer
Folder 9: 97-3584: USA v. Robert Norman, etc.
Folder 10: 97-3710: Robert Potts v. Securities and Exchange Commission
Folder 11: 97-3735: Chad Weisgram, etc, et al. v. Marley Company, etc., et al.
Folder 12: 97-3813: USA v. Romaine Dukes
Folder 13: 97-3997: USA v. James Hollowell
Folder 14: 97-4017: USA v. John Session
Folder 15: 97-4047: USA v. Adolphus Mullings
Folder 16: 97-4383: Christopher Aburime, et al. v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.
Folder 17: 97-8225: Harold Weaver v. Mike Kemna, etc., et al.
Folder 18: 97-1311/97-1499: USA v. Chan Yui Feng, etc., et al. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 20: 97-1444: USA v. Norberto Martinez, etc. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 21: 97-2099: David O'Kane v. John Keane, etc., et al. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 22: 97-2160: Edwin Maldonado v. USA (2nd Circuit)
Folder 23: 97-2420: Jeffrey Pinckney v. James Stinson (2nd Circuit)
Folder 24: 97-2469: Harvey Graham v. James Stinson (2nd Circuit)
Folder 25: 97-2519: Ronald Dorsey v. The People of the State of New York (2nd Circuit)
Folder 26: 97-2554: Christopher Scott v. Wayne Strack, etc. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 27: 97-7144: Toby Cohen v. Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield (2nd Circuit)
Folder 28: 97-7740: Ashlodge Ltd., v. Noel Hauser, et al. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 29: 97-7767: Marjorie Wolper v. McGraw-Hill, Inc. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 30: 97-7952: Robert Schulz, et al. v. New York State Executive, et al. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 31: 97-7989: Great Northern Insurance Company, et al. v. Mount Vernon Fire Insurance Company (2nd Circuit)
Folder 32: 97-9080: Jennifer Renard, etc., et al. v. John Dillman, et al. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 33: 97-9085: Lynn Thomson v. Allan Larson, et al. (2nd Circuit)
Folder 34: 97-1272: Ferguson & Flynn Enterprises, Inc. v. Oxford Financial Corporation (3rd Circuit)
Folder 35: 97-1597: USA v. Tyrone Bryant (3rd Circuit)
Folder 36: 97-1609/97-1610: Alvord-Polk Inc., et al. v. F. Schumacher & Co., et al. (3rd Circuit)
Folder 37: 97-1708: Joseph Lepera v. ITT Corporation, et al. (3rd Circuit)
Folder 38: 97-1734: Sergio Hernandez v. Kalinowski, et al. (3rd Circuit)
Folder 39: 97-1817: USA v. William Miller (3rd Circuit)
Folder 40: 97-1829: Parents United for Better Schools Inc., et al. v. School District of Philadelphia Board of Education, et al. (3rd Circuit)
Folder 41: 97-1876/97-1877: USA v. Leonard Patrick, etc. (3rd Circuit)
Folder 42: 97-1882: USA v. John Greene (3rd Circuit)
Folder 43: 97-1906: USA v. Robert Simone (3rd Circuit)
Folder 44: 97-1972: USA v. Robert Magaraci (3rd Circuit)
Folder 45: 97-5431: Burt Sempier v. Johnson & Higgins (3rd Circuit)
Folder 46: 97-5449: Anthony Maiuro, etc., et al. v. The Flying Tiger Line Inc., etc., et al. (3rd Circuit)

Box 116

Folder 1: 97-5450: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. James Emiliani, etc., et al. (3rd Circuit)
Folder 2: 97-5683: William Van Nostrand v. Dickson Research Group, Inc., et al. (3rd Circuit)
Folder 3: 97-0130: Dan Deason v. Kenneth McGinnis (6th Circuit)
Folder 4: 97-0311: Arthur Lester v. Terry Collins, Warden (6th Circuit)
Folder 5: 97-1334/97-1389: Paul Goodman and Bonnie Goodman v. Vanguard Insurance Company (6th Circuit)
Folder 6: 97-1596: Belle Maer Harbor, etc. v. Charter Township of Harrison, etc., et al. (6th Circuit)
Folder 7: 97-1782: Dushon Hampton v. USA (6th Circuit)
Folder 8: 97-3331: General Electric Company v. William Bools, et al. (6th Circuit)
Folder 9: 97-3466: Thomas Ludwig v. USA (6th Circuit)
Folder 10: 97-3892: David Sparks v. International Union, et al. (6th Circuit)
Folder 11: 97-4067: Wills Trucking, Inc., et al. v. Baltimore and Ohio Railrod Company, et al. (6th Circuit)
Folder 12: 97-4313: Kevin Gunnell v. Alan Lazaroff (6th Circuit)
Folder 13: 97-5469: Dewayne Gardner v. USA (6th Circuit)
Folder 14: 97-5617: USA v. Gregory Gough (6th Circuit)
Folder 15: 97-5842: USA v. Chang Son (6th Circuit)
Folder 16: 97-6044: USA, et al. v. A.D. Roe Company, Inc., et al. (6th Circuit)
Folder 17: 97-6081: Betty Stevens v. Kenneth Apfel (6th Circuit)
Folder 18: 97-10029: USA v. Mauricio Antonio Martinez-Valiente (9th Circuit): 132 F.3d 41 (9th Cir. 1997)
Folder 19: 97-10057: USA v. Angela Shannon (9th Circuit)
Folder 20: 97-10070: USA v. Leroy Schubert (9th Circuit)
Folder 21: 97-10074: USA v. Edward Harsh (9th Circuit): 131 F.3d 149 (9th Cir. 1997)
Folder 22: 97-10091: USA v. Cals Infenatourah (9th Circuit)
Folder 23: 97-10102: USA v. Fidel Luna-Madellaga (9th Circuit)
Folder 24: 97-10208: USA v. Michael Naputi (9th Circuit)
Folder 25: 97-10305: USA v. Tak Yan Lo (9th Circuit)
Folder 26: 97-15684: In re: Balbir Tuli v. Republic of Iraq (9th Circuit)
Folder 27: 97-15844: Christian TwoRivers v. Samuel Lewis, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 28: 97-16306/98-15732: S.A. McElwaine, etc. v, US West Inc., etc. (9th Circuit)
Folder 29: 97-16623/17183: Joseph Friedrich v. Intel Corporation, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 30: 97-16686: Daniel Bernstein v. United States Department of Commerce, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 31: 97-16714: Inez Miller v. Standard Insurance Company (9th Circuit)
Folder 32: 97-17346: James Berry, etc., et al. v. Valence Technology, Inc., et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 33: 97-17405: Alan Gluth v. Terry Stewart, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 34: 97-50100/97-50111/97-50113/97-50171: USA v. Patrick Frega, et al. (9th Circuit) (1 of 2)
Folder 35: 97-50100/97-50111/97-50113/97-50171: USA v. Patrick Frega, et al. (9th Circuit) (2 of 2)
Folder 36: 97-50158/97-50181: USA v. Vinh Nguyen, etc., et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 37: 97-50485: USA v. Douglas Wiora (9th Circuit)
Folder 38: 97-50537/97-50550: USA v. Josefa Fuentes, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 39: 97-55108: Charles Earl Taormina v. California Department of Corrections, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 40: 97-55420: Michael Wills, et al. v. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, et al. (9th Circuit)

Box 117

Folder 1: 97-55426: American Association of Cosmetology Schools v. Richard Riley, etc. (9th Circuit)
Folder 2: 97-55481: Luis Esteves v. County of Imperial, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 3: 97-55579: Lauren Wallis, etc., et al. v. Mary Spencer, etc., et al. (9th Circuit) (1 of 2)
Folder 4: 97-55579: Lauren Wallis, etc., et al. v. Mary Spencer, etc., et al. (9th Circuit) (2 of 2)
Folder 5: 97-55649: Terrence Ellis v. City of San Diego, CA, et al. (9th Circuit)
Folder 6: 97-70134: Maiane Mgoian v. Immigration and Naturalization Service (9th Circuit)
Folder 7: 97-70544: Medhat Salib v. Immigration and Naturalization Service (9th Circuit)
Folder 8: 97-70921: Santiago Castellanos-Castillo, et al. v. Immiration and Naturalization Service (9th Circuit)
Folder 9: 97-2618: USA v. Sigma International, Inc., et al. (11th Circuit) (1 of 2)
Folder 10: 97-2618: USA v. Sigma International, Inc., et al. (11th Circuit) (2 of 2)
Folder 11: 97-3080: USA v. Curtis Wilson (11th Circuit)
Folder 12: 97-3292: Mark Whitcher v. David White, et al. (11th Circuit)
Folder 13: 97-5074: William Waters, et al. v. International Precious Metals Corporation, et al. (11th Circuit)
Folder 14: 97-5472/97-5689: Liberty Mutual Insurance Company v. C-Staff, Inc., et al. (11th Circuit)

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