Here Come De Judges: From Hardwood Court to Hard-Core Court of Law

"Order in the courtroom - here come de judge!" This mantra, a familiar refrain decades ago to fans of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, is associated with African-American comedians Sammy Davis Jr. and Flip Wilson playing magistrate with black robe and powdered wig.

Flipping off reality with half a peace sign amid refusing to meet with nominee, deranged #Dimorats likely will again be bigger joke than Davis' entertaining Rat Pack slapstick at Judiciary Committee nomination hearing involving Amy Coney Barrett. Leftist lunatics exhibited their true contemptible colors two years ago in similar freak-show proceeding defecating in public on Brett Kavanaugh. Dismissive diva Dianne Feinstein, a foolish fossil farce with which to be reckoned (COVID masks for thee but not for me), probably already has received intel from next Dr. Blah-Blah-Blah Fraud about unseemly incident at mysterious residence known only in myopic magistrate stalker Alyssa Milano's feeble brain. Meanwhile, CNN/MSNBC haughty hosts howling for misfit Michael #Avenaughty as President may have another creepy porn lawyer client handy to fictitiously claim firsthand knowledge regarding nominee participating in gang rape of Catholic males at "Handmaid's Tale" themed sorority party.

As for college basketball packing the court, a striking number of former hoopers are party to honorably performing judgeship role in real life. The state of Florida flaunts a triune tribunal of ex-players judged as vital for Florida, Florida State and Miami among the following alphabetical list going from the hardwood court to hard-fisted court of law:

JAMES "JEB" BOASBERG, Yale
In 2011, he was appointed U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia. Boasberg served as Presiding Judge of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2020 and 2021. In late April 2012, he ruled the public had no right to view government photographs of a deceased Osama Bin Laden. . . . The 6-5 Boasberg averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg from 1981-82 through 1984-85.

FRANK BURGESS, Gonzaga
Appointed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, he served as U.S. District Court Judge in Tacoma, Wash., until passing away in spring of 2010. . . . All-American guard averaged 28.2 ppg and 7.6 rpg from 1958-59 through 1960-61. Selected in the third round of the 1961 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of rebounder deluxe Bill Bridges (Kansas).

ED CAHN, Lehigh
After graduating Magna Cum Laude, he became a chief judge in Philadelphia from 1993 until retiring at the end of 1998, responsible for overseeing 35 federal district judges. He was nominated by President Gerald Ford in late November 1974 to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. . . . First player in Lehigh history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Cahn, who earned second-team All-Pennsylvania honors, became his alma mater's all-time leading scorer in only his junior season (1953-54).

BOBBY CONRAD JR., Clemson
In 2003, he was nominated to a federal judgeship (Western District of North Carolina) by President George Bush and served in that capacity until 2013. He had been instrumental in prosecuting supporters of a Hezbollah terrorist cell in the state. Conrad was scrutinized after sentencing a black man to life in prison for selling marijuana. . . . Illinois native averaged 4.7 ppg and 3.5 apg from 1976-77 through 1979-80. He led the Tigers in assists as a junior and senior. His son, Branden, played for South Carolina in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

STEVE EHLMANN, Furman
Circuit judge in St. Charles County (Mo.) until January, 2004, when he became the county's Director of Administration. Two years later, Ehlmann was elected County Executive. Previously, he served in the Missouri House of Representatives for four years and the Missouri Senate for eight years (serving two terms as Republican floor leader). . . . Forward averaged 1.4 ppg and 0.9 rpg in 36 games from 1970-71 through 1972-73. Played briefly in 1971 NCAA playoffs against Digger Phelps-coached Fordham.

HAROLD "JIM" ELLIS, Santa Clara
Appointed as a San Mateo County judge in 1988, where he served for more than 20 years. . . . Played seven games for the Broncos in 1962-63.

MARK FILLEY, Williams (Mass.)
Family court judge in his hometown of Troy, N.Y., from 1954 to 1971. . . . Filley played hoops in college in the early 1930s. Righthander appeared in one MLB game as a reliever for the Washington Senators in 1934.

RON GAGNON, Providence
Appointed Associate Judge of the Rhode Island Superior Court in early 1988 before retiring from the bench in 2003. . . . Gagnon averaged 2 ppg for PC in 1950-51 and 1951-52.

HERB GALCHINSKY, Denver
Spent 16 years as Denver County Court judge. Mandatory retirement at 72 didn't prompt Galchinsky, nicknamed "Herby the Love Judge" by co-workers, to relinquish his weekend passion of performing weddings. "You get to see happy people for a change," he said. "You see a lot of things that are nasty in the courthouse. It's good for me to see happy people at the wedding and reception." . . . The 6-1 Galchinsky averaged 5.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg from 1957-58 through 1959-60.

EARLE GIBBONS, California
In 1969, Governor Ronald Reagan appointed him as a Municipal Court Judge. . . . Gibbons averaged 2.6 ppg for Cal from 1948-49 through 1950-51.

PAUL "BILL" GLENN, Florida State
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for more than 25 years. . . . Averaged 10.9 ppg and 5 rpg for FSU in 1965-66 and 1966-67. Team MVP as top scorer in coach Hugh Durham's first season with the Seminoles.

PAUL GRANT, Utah
At the age of 33, he was elected a city court judge. Eventually, Grant rose to the circuit court, where he earned a reputation as a decisive, no-nonsense judge with quick, dry wit. At the age of 56, he retired and moved to Wyoming in 1992. "I expected to stay on the bench for eight years, but there's the tyranny of the paycheck," Grant said. . . . Following a Mormon Church mission, Grant played sparingly for the Utes in 1958-59 under Hall of Fame coach Jack Gardner before quitting to enter law school. Father of 12 including three NCAA Division I players (Greg/18.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2 spg for Utah State from 1982-83 through 1985-86; Nate/5.7 ppg and 4.1 rpg for Utah State in 1985-86 and 1986-87, and Josh/15.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.5 spg for Utah from 1988-89 through 1992-93). Greg (Big West in 1986) and Josh (WAC in 1991 and 1993) were conference MVPs.

FRED GREEN, Illinois
Republican was elected as a County Judge in 1956 and Circuit Judge in 1964. He became an Appellate Judge in 1974, retiring in 1998. . . . Green averaged 6.2 ppg for the Illini's national third-place team in 1949 under Harry Combes.

JACK HEKKER, Georgetown
Municipal Judge in South Nyack, N.Y., for 24 years and two years as a judge in Orangetown, N.Y. He was appointed by Gov. George Pataki to serve on New York State Industrial Board of Appeals. . . . Hekker averaged 3.6 ppg with the Hoyas from 1950-51 through 1952-53.

BILL JOHNSON, Dartmouth
Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1985 to 1999. Chairman of the N.H. Republican party from 1964 to 1966. . . . Scored eight points in 13 games in 1950-51.

MARC KELLY, Notre Dame
Judge of the Superior Court of Orange County in California since 2000. In the spring of 2015, the County Board of supervisors formally demanded his resignation following a decision to give less than half the mandatory sentenced to a man who sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl. But a grassroots recall effort fizzled following organizers failing to secure enough signatures to put a recall measure on the June 2016 ballot. . . . Collected 20 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists and 6 steals in 45 games from 1978-79 through 1981-82 under coach Digger Phelps.

JOHN KIRWAN, Detroit
Elected to Wayne County (MI) Circuit Court from which he retired in 1998 after more than 40 years of public service. . . . Team leader in scoring in 1948-49, member of the Titans' first-ever 20-win team as junior (1949-50) and All-Missouri Valley Conference second-team selection as senior.

ROSS KRUMM, Gettysburg (Pa.)
Serving from 1986 to 2012, he was chief judge for U.S. bankruptcy court/Western District of Virginia. . . . Averaged 4.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg from 1965-66 through 1967-68.

FRED LEWIS, Florida Southern
Justice on the Florida Supreme Court from end of 1998 to early 2019. . . . The 5-10 Lewis, born to a coal mining family in West Virginia, averaged 6.9 ppg from 1965-66 through 1968-69.

PLUMMER LOTT, Seattle
Justice for the Supreme Court of Kings County in Brooklyn from 1996 to early 2009, presiding primarily over felony cases. One of the best-know cases involved a con man who posed as film legend Sidney Poitier's son, inspiring the play Six Degrees of Separation and a 1994 film adaptation of the same name. Appointed as a Justice of the Appellate Division in spring of 2009. . . . Averaged 9.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg for SU from 1964-65 through 1966-67. As a senior, he grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in 62-54 defeat against defending champion Texas Western in West Regional of NCAA tourney.

ARNOLD LYNCH, Austin Peay State
District Judge in Kentucky for more than 12 years before hanging up robe in late 2014. . . . Averaged 1.1 ppg and 1.3 rpg in 16 games for APSU in 1974-75.

L. CASEY MANNING, South Carolina
Circuit Court Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in South Carolina since 1994. Served as Assistant Attorney General for the state of South Carolina for five years (1983-88) and Chief of Prosecutions (1988 and 1989). In the spring of 2014, some observers think Manning took a "flop" on wrong court with a ruling establishing criminal immunity for legislators. . . . Averaged 2.4 ppg for three NCAA tourney teams from 1970-71 through 1972-73 under coach Frank McGuire.

JOE BILLY McDADE, Bradley
Senior U.S. District Court Judge in Central Illinois since end of February 2010. . . . Averaged 9.8 ppg and 7.2 rpg for BU from 1956-57 through 1958-59 for three NIT teams.

DENNIS McGUIRE, DePaul
Judge on Cook County 11th Subcircuit in Illinois since 2002. . . . The 6-8 McGuire averaged 2.1 ppg and 1.5 rpg for the Blue Demons from 1977-78 through 1980-81 under coach Ray Meyer, appearing in 1979 Final Four.

TYRONE MEDLEY, Utah
Utah's first black judge (appointed to Fifth District Court in late 1984) served on the bench until retiring in summer of 2012. . . . Averaged 11 ppg and 2 rpg for the Utes from 1971-72 through 1973-74 under coach Bill E. Foster. As a senior, he averaged 16.4 ppg was for their NIT champion.

MICHAEL F. MULLEN, Fairfield
In January 1987, he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Claims by New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo and for 20 years sat in the Supreme Court, Suffolk County. He was described by the New York Post as "a fair, no-nonsense, scholarly jurist who doesn't like cases to drag on." . . . Collected 18 points and 10 rebounds with the Stags in seven games in 1958-59.

JOEL NOVAK, Iowa
Appointed as a 5th Judicial District Court trial judge in August 1979, serving in that capacity until September 2017. . . . Averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg with the Hawkeyes in 1960-61 and 1961-62 as teammate of All-American Don Nelson.

ANDY OWENS, Florida
Appointed judge for the state's 12th Judicial Circuit in 1983, serving on the bench until spring of 2017. . . . Averaged 19 ppg and 8.3 rpg with the Gators from 1967-68 through 1969-70. As an All-SEC first-team selection, he scored career-high 41 points in game against Mississippi State his senior season.

KENNETH RYSKAMP, Miami (Fla.)
Federal judge who presided over cases in the U.S. Southern District of Florida for more than three decades following President Ronald Reagan's nomination in 1986. President George H.W. Bush twice nominated Ryskamp to the appellate court, but he was defeated both times after senators, including Joe Biden and Bob Graham, raised questions about his sensitivity to minority groups. . . . The 6-6 Ryskamp averaged a team-high 9.5 rpg with the Hurricanes in 1954-55 under coach Bruce Hale.

DERWIN WEBB, Louisville
First African-American to serve as a judge solely in Louisville's Family Court in the history of Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was publicly reprimanded by the Kentucky Supreme Court for an error in private practice causing a former female client to be married to two men at the same time. . . . Webb averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.7 rpg with the Cardinals from 1989-90 through 1992-93 under coach Denny Crum.

BYRON "WHIZZER" WHITE, Colorado
United States Supreme Court Justice for 32 years after being appointed by President Kennedy in 1962. White, a dissenter in the 7-2 Roe vs. Wade ruling, was known for his regard for the power of Congress. On the bench, White was a fierce questioner who seemed to revel in backing a lawyer into a corner. White's most controversial verdict was his 1986 majority opinion upholding Georgia's ban on consensual homosexual conduct. . . . College Football Hall of Famer finished second in the 1937 Heisman Trophy voting after rushing for a national-leading 1,121 yards, passing for 475, returning punts and kickoffs for 746, punting for a 42.5-yard average, intercepting four passes and scoring a nation-leading 122 points. Played three seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1938) and Detroit Lions (1940 and 1941). He led the NFL in rushing in 1938 and 1940 and in punt returns in 1941. White was one of the first big-money players, making $15,800 as a rookie. In a low-scoring era of basketball, he averaged 6.8 ppg for the Buffaloes in conference play in three varsity seasons (1935-36 through 1937-38). White scored 10 points in 1938 NIT championship game when Colorado was defeated by Temple, 60-36. He was a third-team all-league selection as a sophomore (7.7 ppg in Rocky Mountain) and first team as a junior (RMC) and senior (Mountain States). After CU's 48-47 victory over NYU in 1938 NIT semifinals, the New York Times wrote that "White was the guiding genius of the team and its steadying influence. The Rhodes Scholar, with a build as solid as an oak tree, was all-powerful on defense and an excellent shot when he chose."

PAUL "HOOKS" YESAWICH JR., Niagara
New York Judge served as a member of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court/First Judicial Department from 1974 to 1981. . . . Four-year letterman averaged 8.6 ppg as a senior in 1947-48 under coach Taps Gallagher. Yesawich's college career was interrupted by serving as officer in U.S. Navy during WWII. He was deployed on attack cargo ship participating in largest amphibious assault of conflict at Okinawa.