Over 1,000 people gathered in Phoenix on October 9 for Ernest W. McFarland Appreciation Day. In addition scores of messages were sent to the Justice including those from the President of the United State. and the two Iiving former presidents. The dinner program followed a “This Is Your Life” theme with Bill Lawrence of ABC News as master of ceremonies.

Associate Dean J. Keith Mann brought greetings from the University. He noted that the consent and license implicit in the occasion allowed him to quote from a privileged document in his possession. After pointing out that Justice McFarland had received an A in his law course on Use of Law Books and a B+ in Political Parties, Mr. Mann conjectured on what a successful career the Justice might have had had it not been for that B+! Mr. Mann ended by saying, “You have had and are still having, Mr. Justice, one of the truly remarkable careers in modern American history. Stanford University pays tribute to and salute one of the university’s most distinguished sons.”

Justice McFarland received an A.B. from the University of Oklahoma in 1917, and both a J.D. in 1922 and an A.M. in 1924 from Stanford University. He was admitted to the Arizona Brand in 1923 became assistant attorney general for the State. In 1924 Justice McFarland was elected Pinal County attorney. a post he held for six years; he was then attorney for the San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District. After a six year term as judge of the Superior Court of Pinal County, Justice McFarland was elected to the United States Senate, serving from 1940 until 1952 and as Senate Majority Leader during the 82nd Congress.

Justice McFarland continued to serve Arizona in his two terms as governor from 1954 until 1958 when he returned to practice. In 1964 he was elected to the Supreme Court of Arizona and served as chief justice in 1968.

Recently Justice McFarland served as chief justice of the finals of the Law School’ Marion Rice Kirkwood Moot Court Competition. Stanford Law School and Stanford University were proud to join in honoring Justice McFarland.