ALI Life Member Abner J. Mikva passed away on July 4th in his hometown of Chicago. He was 90.
In a statement released today, President Barrack Obama said, "[A]s we mourn his passing, I’m comforted by the thought that countless Americans will continue fighting for progressive causes Ab believed in because he pushed them toward public service, both during his time in government and through Mikva Challenge, which he established with his wonderful wife, Zoe."
Judge Mikva served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 to 1973, and 1975 to 1979. He was then appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, where he served for fifteen years, four of them as Chief Judge. He would leave the Court to serve as White House counsel under President Bill Clinton. In November 2014, Judge Mikva was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Judge Mikva is survived by his wife, three daughters, and seven grandchildren.