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Congressional Daily Record
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Official title: MORNING BUSINESS
Issued
July 20, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextTRIBUTE TO TOM LEE
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. President, it is an honor to pay tribute today to Judge Tom Lee, who has recently assumed inactive status after more than 40 years on the Federal bench, Judge Lee was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District Court of Mississippi. He would go on to serve as chief judge from 1996 to 2003 and as chief judge he oversaw the implementation of the Case Management and Electronic Case Filing System, a system still used by the Federal Courts today. Early in Judge Lee's career prior to this appointment, he was a legal stalwart in his native Scott County serving as county prosecutor, youth court judge, and city of Forest municipal court judge—well, maybe referring to his hometown of Forest as a city is a bit of a stretch. Preceding Judge Lee's legal career beginnings in his hometown, he graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1965 and served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a captain in the JAG Corps from 1965-1973.
judicial service has no limit. A defining characteristic of Judge Lee's remarkable career is his deep commitment to applying the law fairly and impartially. However, not only has Judge Lee earned a strong reputation for applying the law fairly, but he is also known to have done so with humility, courtesy, and integrity. Highly regarded for his strong intellectual ability too, these qualities have earned Judge Lee the deep admiration of so many legal professionals who have witnessed his service on the bench. Throughout Judge Lee's career, lawyers, litigants, law clerks, court reporters, court employees, and fellow judges have all praised his outstanding character in how he handled matters before his court.
high-profile cases. His most recent high-profile case was the “Goon Squad Case” in March of 2024. It was one of the most challenging and closely watched criminal cases in Mississippi's recent history. Consistent with Judge Lee's career, he approached that responsibility with fairness, careful deliberation, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. Judge Lee's work on that case serves as an example of the strong integrity and judicial temperament that has defined his career.
by Judge Lee. I am certain their careers have been enhanced by Judge Lee's legacy and follow the example he set as it applies to their own professional circumstances. Judge Lee's legacy will undoubtedly continue long after his years of active judicial have concluded. The State of Mississippi is blessed that Judge Tom Lee is one of our own as is our Nation's judicial system as a whole.