Judge William B. Jones and Judge Edward A. Tamm Judicial Lecture Series
The Judge William B. Jones and Judge Edward A. Tamm Lecture Series honors the memory of two distinguished jurists who had strong Montana ties. They left their mark, a very positive mark, on the federal judiciary. Both of them established themselves as judges who were deeply committed to improving the administration of our judicial system and preserving and enhancing the rule of law in our society. In view of their exemplary commitment to the administration of justice, their deep interest in lawyers and in particular, law students and members of the bar, this lecture series was founded.
— Robert S. Bennett, Esq.
Judge William B. Jones
William B. Jones was born and reared in Iowa. He attended the University of Notre Dame and played football under the fabled coach Knute Rockne.
On the recommendation of Coach Rockne, Carroll College hired William B. Jones in 1931 to be the College’s football coach. Jones also practiced law in Helena from 1931 to 1937. He served as a special assistant to the Attorney General of Montana from 1935 to 1937. Jones married the former Alice Danicich of Anaconda.
In 1937, Jones moved to Washington, D.C., to join the Justice Department. Jones worked for the government in various capacities and later engaged in private practice. Under the sponsorship of Montana Senator Mike Mansfield, President John F. Kennedy appointed Jones to be a district judge for the District of Columbia.
Judge Jones served as an active judge from 1962 until 1977, when he took senior status. Judge Jones served as Chief Judge of the D.C. District Court. While on the bench, Judge Jones became highly esteemed among his colleagues as well as by members of the bar.
Judge Edward A. Tamm
Edward A. Tamm grew up in Butte and graduated from Butte Central High School. He attended Mount St. Charles College (later Carroll College) in Helena and The University of Montana. In 1930, Tamm was appointed Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During his eighteen-year career with the FBI, he was involved in the famous Lindbergh kidnapping case, and coordinated the capture of John Dillinger. FBI Director Hoover personally commended Tamm for his supervision of the Lindbergh case, noting that Tamm contributed materially to its successful prosecution.
In 1948, President Truman nominated Tamm to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Tamm won a reputation as a trial judge of great fairness and firmness. In 1965, President Johnson appointed Judge Tamm to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Chief Justice Warren E. Burger appointed Judge Tamm Chief Judge of the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals. Judge Tamm served in that position from 1972 until 1981. Judge Tamm was a close friend of Montana Judge William J. Jameson, who often participated on Emergency Court of Appeals panels.
Judge Tamm served as Chairman of the Judicial Conference Ethics Review Committee from 1969 to 1978, as Chairman of the Judicial Ethics Committee from 1978 to 1985, and as Co-chairman of the Joint Committee on the Code of Judicial Conduct.
The University of Montana School of Law gratefully acknowledges those who have generously committed their time, energy, and financial support to create the Judge William B. Jones and Judge Edward A. Tamm Judicial Lecture Series. We especially appreciate Robert S. Bennett’s vision and leadership in creating this lecture series. We also thank Milton Datsopoulos who chaired the Montana Development Committee.
