Judge Carl Muecke

Judge Carl Muecke Judge Carl Muecke passed away at the age of 89 on September 21 2007. He was a beloved husband and father, and will be missed dearly by his wife Vickie, his daughter Kate, his two sons Carl and Jackson, daughter-in-law Chris, and grandchildren Alexis, Josh, Meredith, and Lauren. Muecke was born in Manhattan, New York in 1918. He worked his way through William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia, and graduated in three years, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Though he was offered a scholarship to do graduate work in economics at the University of Virginia, Muecke took a job instead with the Works Project Administration (WPA). In 1942, Muecke joined the Marines, and after going through officers training school, he trained Marine officers. Because he spoke fluent German, he was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Europe. In 1946, Muecke moved his first wife, Nancy, and son Carl to Phoenix, Arizona to raise a family. Initially, he worked as a lobbyist, and when the election was over, became a reporter for the Arizona Times, a newspaper founded by Franklin Roosevelt's daughter, Anna Roosevelt Boettinger. Muecke then worked as an organizer for the restaurant and bartenders' union. At age 32, he decided to go to law school and enrolled at the University of Arizona. From then on, he threw himself into progressive issues, particularly civil rights. Carl Muecke was appointed U.S. attorney by President John Kennedy in 1961, at the age of 43 years. He worked closely with Attorney General Robert Kennedy. His nomination to the bench by President Lyndon Johnson was in the works when JFK was assassinated. Muecke was sworn in as a Federal Judge on September 29th, 1964. He considered it a privilege to act as a public servant on behalf of the people of Arizona and the Federal Courts. His deeply held ethical and moral values guided his life, and he worked tirelessly to protect civil rights and the environment. He had a great deal of judicial courage, and in his decisions represented a positive force for social change. During his tenure he tackled nearly every controversial issue that helped shape the past four decades. Yet he was always a person of steady convictions rather than a fiery individual. Judge Muecke stepped down as chief judge of the district court in 1984 to take "senior status." He retired on February 21, one day after his 79th birthday. Along with his dedication to and love of his work, Carl Muecke had other passions. He read voraciously and had a library of 18,000 books. He was an avid sailor and photographer. He adored his wife Vickie and his children. Private family services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to Northland Hospice, 452 N. Switzer Canyon Drive, Suite A, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001.

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