Most of the attention to the Tucson shootings on Jan. 8, 2011 is focused on Gabrielle Giffords. Not only is Giffords a sitting congress woman, but her miraculous survival after having been shot through the head at close range made that fact in itself, newsworthy.
The shooting spree in the parking lot of a Safeway store left six people dead and 13 others injured. It is not insignificant that the Chief Justice of the US District Court for Arizona, John Roll, 63, was among the dead. His death allowed the federal government to assume jurisdiction over the matter and to prosecute suspect Jared Loughner, 22 and anyone else who may be arrested in connection with the shooting.
The prosecution of Loughner by the federal government could result in him receiving the death penalty if convicted.
Biography of John McCarthy Roll
Roll was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on Feb. 8, 1947. He received a BA from the University of Arizona in 1969 and a law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1972.
He began his legal career in 1972 as Bailiff of the Pima County Superior Court in the state of Arizona. That same year, he became the assistant city attorney in Tucson before becoming the deputy county attorney for Puma County. Roll held this latter position until 1980.
In 1980, he was appointed assistant US attorney for the District of Arizona, a position that he held until 1987. In 1987, Roll was first appointed to the bench as a judge on the Court of Appeals, Division Two in Arizona. He sat on that court until 1991.
On September 23, 1991, Roll was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the US District Court for the District of Arizona. He was quickly confirmed by the Senate and began sitting on the court the following November.
In 2006, Roll became the chief judge of the court, a position that he held until his death.
While sitting on the Court of Appeals, Roll received a Master of Laws degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1990.
Roll Subjected to Death Threats in the Past
As a judge sitting in a state where emotions run high over immigration issues, Roll received death threats back in 2009. Groups representing immigrants launched a $32 million civil rights case against an Arizona rancher who they alleged detained and assaulted illegal immigrants.
After Roll allowed the case to continue, the matter became a heated subject for debate, especially with callers to talk radio programs. Roll’s office received over 200 telephone calls threatening him and his family with death. Personal information about the family was posted on the Internet.
The judge later told the media that he and his family received protection from US Marshalls for about a month.
Presided Over Other Controversial Cases
On May 11, 2010, a law prohibiting schools from teaching ethnic studies was signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer. Proponents of the law saw the teaching of ethnic studies as attempts to separate students of different ethnic backgrounds. The law came into effect on Dec. 31, 2010.
A group of 11 Arizona teachers brought a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the law should be struck down. Roll was presiding over the proceedings at the time of his death.
Although early reports indicate that Rep. Giffords was the main target of the killer, some believe that the shooter was really out to assassinate Judge Roll.
Roll his survived by his wife, three children and five grandchildren.
Federal Judicial Center, retrieved Jan. 9, 2011
Azcentral.com, U.S. District Judge John Roll faced death threats in 2009, retrieved Jan. 9, 2011
LA Times, Arizona bill targeting ethnic studies signed into law, retrieved Jan. 9, 2011
Arthur Weinreb - Weinreb is an author, associate editor and columnist with Canada Free Press and the Canadian Affairs Feature Writer for Suite 101.
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