U.S. General Services Administration
GSA, Congressman Thornberry and the Judiciary host dedication ceremony in Amarillo
AMARILLO, Texas — Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) along with U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry and the U.S. District Courts joined to commemorate the re-naming of Amarillo’s federal courthouse. The courthouse previously named after Judge J. Marvin Jones will now be named the J. Marvin Jones Federal Building and Mary Lou Robinson United States Courthouse.
“It is an honor to represent GSA as we memorialize Judge Mary Lou Robinson for her important contributions to Amarillo by adding her name to the federal courthouse where she served,” said GSA Regional Administrator Bobby Babcock. “The re-naming demonstrates the federal government’s lasting respect and appreciation for both Judge Marvin Jones and Judge Mary Lou Robinson.”
“Judge Robinson is a legal pioneer who is universally respected and admired. She has always set high standards for herself and others, and our system of justice has benefitted,” said Representative Thornberry. “Having the name of these two outstanding public servants on our federal building and courthouse will be a perpetual reminder of their high standards and outstanding contributions to our nation.”
“Judge Mary Lou Robinson has been an inspiration to jurists throughout the country, particularly to women who have used her fine example as a motivation to seek judicial office,” said Chief Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. “We on the Northern District bench and all citizens of Texas owe her an immeasurable debt for her lifetime of service. I cannot think of a more appropriate way to honor Mary Lou than to affix her name the courthouse where she served faithfully for nearly forty years.”
Judge Mary Lou Robinson:
- Judge Mary Lou Robinson served as a judge for more than 60 years, more than 35 years of which were as a federal district judge in the Northern District of Texas.
- She attended and graduated law school at the University of Texas and later went into private practice in Amarillo where she was one of two female attorneys practicing there.
- In 1955, Judge Robinson became the first woman in Amarillo history to serve as a judge higher than the justice of the peace level and was the first Potter County Court at Law judge.
- She was elected state district court judge in 1960.
- In 1973, she became an associate justice of the Seventh State Court of Appeals, making her the first female appellate judge in the entire state of Texas. She later became the chief justice of that court.
- In 1979, Judge Robinson was nominated and confirmed to the federal bench, again being only the second woman to serve as a U.S. district judge in Texas.
- She took senior judge status in 2016 and inactive senior status in 2018.
- She has been honored repeatedly, including receiving the Sandra Day O’Connor Award and being named one of Texas Lawyer magazine’s “100 Legal Legends in the State.”
Judge J. Marvin Jones:
- John Marvin Jones was born on February 26, 1882, in Cooke County, Texas.
- He served as a member of the Democratic Party to the 65th United States Congress and served Texas’ 13th congressional district for 24 years.
- During his tenure in Congress, he became chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Jones was later nominated by President Roosevelt to be an associate judge of the United States Court of Claims, but would take a leave of absence from the court to assist with the World War II efforts.
- Following the war, Jones returned to the court, later being nominated to be the chief justice of the Court of Claims by President Harry S. Truman.
- Jones would serve his role as chief until his retirement in 1964.
- In 1976, he was appointed as senior judge and remained active until his death in Amarillo.
To learn more about the courthouse, visit J. Marvin Jones Federal Building and Mary Lou Robinson United States Courthouse. To learn more about GSA’s historic properties, visit GSA’s Historic Buildings.
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