RESIGNATION OF DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS AND APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1970

Present: MR. CHIEF JUSTICE BURGER, MR. JUSTICE BLACK, MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS, MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, and MR. JUSTICE WHITE.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE said:

Today's order list also includes announcement of the appointment by the Court of the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts succeeding Mr. Ernest Friesen, who resigned in February to become Director of the Institute of Court Management, at the University of Denver. The new director is Mr. Rowland F. Kirks, a member of the District of Columbia Bar, and a former Assistant Attorney General of the United States. Mr. Kirks will assume the duties of the office of Director July 1, 1970.

For order of appointment of Mr. Kirks, entered June 8, 1970, see post, p. 946.

APPOINTMENT OF MR. JUSTICE BLACKMUN

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1970

Present: MR. CHIEF JUSTICE BURGER, MR. JUSTICE BLACK, MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS, MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, MR. JUSTICE STEWART, and MR. JUSTICE WHITE.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE said:

In this special sitting of the Court, we will receive the commission of the Justice-designate, and at this time the Court recognizes the Attorney General.

Mr. Attorney General Mitchell said:

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE, may it please the Court:

I am happy to advise that the President of the United States has nominated, the Senate has consented and the President has appointed Judge Harry A. Blackmun of Minnesota, as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

I bear with me the commission, dated May 14, 1970, signed by the President of the United States, and attested by me as Attorney General, and with the permission of the Court, I will turn the commission over to the Clerk of the Court.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE said:

The commission is accepted, Mr. Attorney General. Thank you.

XII APPOINTMENT OF MR. JUSTICE BLACKMUN

The Clerk then read the commission as follows:

RICHARD NIXON,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

To all who shall see these Presents, Greeting:

KNOW YE; That reposing special trust and confidence in the Wisdom, Uprightness, and Learning of Harry A. Blackmun of Minnesota, I have nominated, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfil the duties of that Office according to the Constitution and Laws of the said United States, and to Have and to Hold the said Office, with all the powers, privileges and emoluments to the same of right appertaining, unto Him, the said Harry A. Blackmun during his good behavior.

In testimony whereof, I have caused these Letters to be made patent and the seal of the Department of Justice to be hereunto affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and ninetyfourth.

[SEAL]

By the President:

JOHN N. MITCHELL,

Attorney General.

RICHARD M. NIXON.

The oath of office was then administered by THE CHIEF JUSTICE, and MR. JUSTICE BLACKMUN was escorted by the Marshal to his seat on the bench.

The oath taken by MR. JUSTICE BLACKMUN is in the following words, viz.:

I, Harry Andrew Blackmun, do solemly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and

do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, according to the best of my abilities and understanding, agreeably to the Constitution of the United States; and that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

So help me God.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE said:

Mr. Justice Blackmun, on behalf of all members of the Court, I welcome you to this bench and we look forward to many years of work together in our common calling.