CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Friday, March 24, 2017
4:00 P.M. Coffee/Tea
5:00 P.M. Funeral Service
6:00 P.M. Dinner Reception
Encanto Park Clubhouse on the Lake
2605 N. 15th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 261-8991
The family of United States District Judge Earl H. Carroll is very sad to announce his passing on February 3, 2017. Born in Tucson on March 26, 1925 to parents John and Ruby Carroll, Earl Carroll lived a very full life of 91 years, including more than 30 years as a federal judge. He spent his early years near Wickenburg, on a gold mine called the Silver Flag. His lifelong appreciation for public education began on that remote mine site, with live-in teachers sent by the state to educate rural students such as Earl and his older brother, John. Later in life, Earl was known to quote long passages of poetry, such as The Charge of the Light Brigade, along with wise (or witty) sayings in Latin. He also developed an early appreciation for a good dictionary. Earl continued his education in Tucson and Phoenix, graduating from Phoenix Union High School, where he first met Louise Rowlands, who became his beloved wife in 1952.
Earl Carroll enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943, and was part of the Navy’s V-12 officer training program, providing him cherished opportunities to study at Arizona State Teacher’s College in Flagstaff (now Northern Arizona University), UCLA, and Harvard. He served as an ensign in the Navy from 1943 to 1946, with service in the Pacific. After the Navy, he completed a business degree at the University of Arizona (1948), where he also earned his law degree (1951), graduating second in his class.
He began his legal career clerking for The Honorable Evo DeConcini of the Arizona Supreme Court. He joined the law firm of Evans, Hull, Kitchel and Jenckes in 1952, becoming a partner in 1955 with special expertise in public utility, transportation and mining law. During his time in private practice, Earl also served as counsel for the city of Tombstone. In 1980, Earl Carroll was nominated to the federal district court in Phoenix by President Jimmy Carter. Taking senior status in 1994 opened a position to be filled by The Honorable Roslyn Silver, although Judge Carroll continued to be active on the court until his retirement in 2011.
Among the highlights of Judge Carroll’s life were his service on the Arizona Board of Regents (1978-1980) and his role in presiding over naturalization ceremonies for new U.S. citizens and challenging cases such as “The Sanctuary Trial” and the long-running Navajo-Hopi dispute. Judge Carroll believed in fidelity to the rule of law, tempered with compassion for individuals. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist appointed Judge Carroll to the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 1993 and he was named chief judge of the federal Alien Terrorist Removal Court in 1996.
He regularly supported educational programs for Arizona’s universities, including co-establishing a public service scholarship for law students with his long-time friend, Tucson attorney Thomas Chandler, at the University of Arizona College of Law. His public service included election to the Phoenix Elementary School Board, serving for 12 years, as well as support for U of A’s College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Red Cross, Camp Fire Girls, the Valley of the Sun YMCA, Chapel Rock – the AZ Church Conference Center, and his college fraternity, Sigma Chi.
Judge Carroll is survived by his wife of 64 years, Louise, and his daughters, Margaret Carroll and Katherine C. Pearson. His daughters continue their parents’ deep commitment to education, public service and respect for justice. Judge Carroll’s extended legal family includes his colleagues on the bench, his talented court staff, and dozens of “assistant judges,” his law clerks and interns, selected from law schools across the county, including U of A, Arizona State University, Penn State’s Dickinson Law, and Harvard. Judge Carroll’s entire family is especially grateful for the thoughtful care provided by Huger Mercy Living Center and Hospice of the Valley.
One of Judge Carroll’s favorite lines of poetry, by Robert Browning: “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”
Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Carroll-Chandler Public Service Fund at U of A
College of Law (Law-Alumni/Development, 1201 E. Speedway, Tucson AZ 85721 or www.law.arizona.edu/give), or to educational institutions of the donor’s choice. A private graveside service at the Arizona National Veteran’s Cemetery will be followed by a Memorial Service in mid-March, with details to be available through Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.
Bob and Anita Hackett
Earl personally and professionally welcomed us as “new transplants” to Phoenix in 1971. We will always be grateful to him for the joy of calling Arizona our home. Blessings to Louise, Katherine and Margaret. Anita and Bob Hackett
Kristen Rosati
I’m grateful to Judge Carroll for bringing me to Phoenix as one of his law clerks, and for the encouragement he provided to me through the years. He was tough on the bench, but I was always struck by his compassion and empathy for the individuals who appeared before him in court. I have many good memories of working with the Judge, and I’ll miss him.
Louise, Katherine and Margaret, my heart goes out to you.
Kristen Rosati
Bill and Charlotte Moss
Louise and Margaret:
Charlotte and I were saddened to read of Earl’s passing. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you during this difficult time. We are keeping you both in our prayers. Bill and Charlotte Moss
Hamid Jabbar
My sincere condolences to Louise, Margaret, and Catherine as well as all of those who were fortunate enough to know Judge Carroll. He will always hold a very special place in my heart.
I was working at O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles as a very young lawyer and had sent out a number of clerkship applications to various federal judges, including a few to Arizona judges. As luck would have it, my firm sent me to Phoenix to conduct a deposition. I had not yet heard back from any judges on my applications as it was still very early in the hiring process, but I thought I would call when I was in Phoenix and see if any judges would interview me since I was going to be here. After my deposition ended, I called a few chambers only to find out that the judges were all away in Flagstaff at a Judge’s conference. A very kind JA told me that the only judge around was Judge Carroll, who stayed to handle any emergency matters and TROs. I called Judge Carroll’s chambers, spoke to his clerk Joel (who I had previously met through a friend), and the next think I knew I was interviewing with Judge Carroll. From the first time I met with him I knew I wanted to clerk for him. He told me to think it over and let him know what I wanted to do. As the year rolled by I was back to my life in Los Angeles and had several other clerkship offers. I called Judge Carroll and told him that I had other offers to respond to but really wanted to come to Arizona to clerk for him. He ask me if I was sure and, after convincing him that I was, he sent me an offer. My move to Arizona was nothing short of life changing and that year spent in chambers and in court with Judge Carroll was one of the most memorable and fulfilling years of my life.
My heart goes out to the entire family, including the family of clerks and lawyers that knew him.
Hamid Jabbar
Ruth Ann Morse Gray
My deepest sympathy is with the Carroll Family during these difficult days. I am especially thinking of my mothers’ dear friend, Louise. Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thomas Marlowe
Dear Mrs. Carroll, Katherine and Margaret:
I was so sorry to hear of the Judge’s passing and I’m truly sorry for your loss. In addition to his family and friends, I know he should be and will be missed by the legal profession and the judiciary. I learned a great deal from him, both professionally and personally. I fondly remember being 27 or so and having difficultly keeping up with him in the office, often finding him there on Saturdays or Sundays when I would stop in to (I thought) get a “jump on him” for the following week.
My thoughts and prayers are with each of you at this time and I hope you draw comfort from the knowledge of the good service he did for so many while he was with us.
Tom Marlowe
Geoffrey Fox
My most sincere thoughts and prayers to Louise, Margaret, Katherine and all of Judge Carroll’s extended family and friends.
I remember interviewing in 2009 on my 2 mile walk to a second job after my first clerkship. Judge asked, “Do you know how long I’ve walked? Let’s get to work.”
Since then I became extremely impressed by Judge’s commitment to the law and justice itself. Thank you Judge Carroll.
As you like quotes, here’s one I’m sure you’d shake your cane at, but in the end we’d enjoy a bowl of courtroom chili:
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — Winnie the Pooh
Thanks and miss you Judge. It’s been an honor and a pleasure.
Best,
Geoff Fox