McCain, Kyl: Name Yuma courthouse after Judge Roll

Posted Jan 14, 2011

Dylan Smith
TucsonSentinel.com

A new federal courthouse to be built in Yuma should be named after Judge John Roll, who was killed in the mass shooting last Saturday, Arizona's Republican senators said.

U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl intend to have the courthouse named the "John M. Roll United States Courthouse," they said in a statement Friday.

Roll was "known for his fairness to all who appeared before him in his courtroom, both plaintiffs and defendants," they said.

"Our state has lost an outstanding jurist, a true and able public servant and a great Arizonan. Therefore, we believe naming the soon-to-be constructed courthouse in his honor is befitting the rich legacy he leaves behind," they said.

Roll, the chief federal judge in Arizona, had recently approved the new courthouse's design, they said.

Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2011 and last through 2013.

Roll's funeral was held Friday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on North Shannon Road.

Five others died and 13 were wounded in what authorities say was an attempt on the life of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords by Jared Lee Loughner.