`Son of Providence' Judge Selya honored with street naming

PROVIDENCE – Some 1,809 opinions bear Senior 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bruce M. Selya’s name, each written in his masterful style across almost four decades on the appeals court bench.  He’s shaped the nation’s jurisprudence and the life’s path of legions of law clerks, including the court’s first Black female U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson.

On Thursday, in a nod to a judge whose love of language, commanding legal mind and sharp wit shined through each page, the City of Providence designated Fulton Street as Judge Selya Way.

Years in the making, the ceremonial renaming came at the behest of the 130 or so clerks for whom Selya served as a mentor, guide and inspiration.

“I’ve always been in awe of how a son of Providence … went on to such a spot of national importance,” said Samuel Salganik, a former clerk who shepherded the naming through with the help of City Councilman John Goncalves. “He’s a nationally important judge and he did it all from his hometown.”

State and federal judges, friends, family and luminaries filled a courtroom to mark the honor at the courthouse where Selya has kept an office since becoming the first person of Jewish faith to ascend the federal bench in Rhode Island. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Selya was nominated to U.S. District Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. Four years later, Reagan named Selya to a new seat on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts named Selya to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, and three years later elevated him to the chief judgeship of the Court of Review.

“Judge Selya is a true giant of the legal profession,” Goncalves said. “He is someone who has inspired us all.”

Selya also made his mark away from his judicial duties. He served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island and as a member of the regional board of the Anti-Defamation League. He joined Rhode Island Hospital's board of trustees in 1989, helping to oversee the formation of Lifespan. He became the founding chairman of Lifespan, which grew to include Newport and Bradley hospitals, in addition to Miriam and Rhode Island hospitals.

1st Circuit Chief Judge David Barron reflected on Selya’s obvious, and contagious, enjoyment of the work of being a judge — as well as his penchant for vocabulary.

Judge Selya Way, seemed, somehow, so monosyllabic, ordinary, and very unSelya-like by comparison, Barron said. Perhaps, Judge Selya boulevard, thoroughfare, or autobahn would be more fitting, Barron proposed.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr., who served as master of ceremony at a gathering marked by smiles and goodwill, stepped aside as the new street sign was revealed. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley vowed to keep the road pothole- and ATV-free.

Selya, 88, expressed immense gratitude to everyone in attendance, including his wife, Cindy.

“Judges lead a privileged life, but the road they travel is sometimes a lonely one,” Selya said.

He praised Reagan and former U.S. Sen. John Chafee as “Great Americans,” observing that, in his view, the country would be well served today if a person “cut from the same cloth” could move the country away from its current divisiveness.

He marvelled that Judge Selya Way would forever link him into perpetuity to the city and court he loves.

“I’m Rhode Island born and Rhode Island bred and when I die, I’ll be Rhode Island dead,” Selya said, winning laughter from the crowd and standing applause.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: `Judge Selya Way' marks storied RI federal judge's achievements, national prominence