33rd / 424th District Courts

On Friday, June 11, during the State Funeral of Pres. Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America, court in Burnet will recess from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. All settings in Blanco County have been rescheduled. This recess will occur commencing at the time (9:30 a.m. Eastern) that the national funeral service begins at the Washington National Cathedral and will continue until that service is expected to be concluded. It is fitting that we should suspend our official proceedings at this time out of respect for a president who was so truly principle-centered and dedicated to this country.

Although the day has been declared a State and National day of mourning and all but essential services have been suspended, I am confident that President Reagan would consider the docket on Friday to be an essential service in the ongoing processes of the criminal justice system in our little part of this great nation. Indeed, President Bush is continuing his duties at the G8 summit in Sea Island, GA even now -- on the evening of the service in the Rotunda. I know that some may disagree in the necessity of even the recess.

However, to do so is a prerogative of your presiding judge that I choose to exercise. I have seldom exercised such prerogatives but it seems fitting to do so on this occasion as I am considerably moved by the unprecedented outpouring of love and tribute that has come from the general public for President Reagan. As I write this Nancy Reagan is approaching her husband's casket in the center of our Capitol Rotunda during the official service. Well over 100,000 have viewed the casket in California and the President's body will lie in State for about 34 hours now for the public and no doubt many more will stop by. Regardless of a person's political persuasion it seems that there is almost universal agreement that this was a special person -- unique, dedicated, and an effective president during extremely trying times.

As a youngster growing up during the height of the cold war with bomb shelters built in every third back yard, watching Kruschev pound the heel of his shoe (was that at the U.N.?), and having deployed to Southeast Asia with the Navy in 1967, the fall of the Berlin Wall and of Russia as we knew it were significant events in my life and for which we owe a debt of gratitude to this President. But above all, his compassion and genuine belief in people and their abilities along with his steadfast allegiance to his principles defined him and through that, defined his presidency. For that example I am thankful and would hope that we might all be inspired accordingly.

Thank you for letting me express some personal thoughts even in the midst of what started out to be an official notice. If anyone would care to join in and comment upon these thoughts, you're welcome to do so. That's what blogs are all about.