Secret Society of Attorneys and Judges Who are Suing President Trump to block his agenda
By Stew Webb
US Federal Whistleblower
Norm Eisen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_Eisen
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Norm Eisen
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Eisen in 2024
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| United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic |
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| In office January 28, 2011 – August 12, 2014 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Joseph Pennington (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Andrew H. Schapiro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 11, 1960 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Lindsay Kaplan |
| Education | Brown University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Norman L. Eisen (born November 11, 1960)[1] is an American attorney, author, and former diplomat. He is a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a CNN legal analyst, and the co-founder of the States United Democracy Center.[2][3] He was co-counsel for the House Judiciary Committee during the first impeachment and trial of President Donald Trump in 2020. He served as White House Special Counsel for Ethics and Government Reform, United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and board chair of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).[4] He is the author of four books, including The Last Palace: Europe’s Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House (2018).[5] In 2022, he co-authored Overcoming Trumpery: How to Restore Ethics, the Rule of Law, and Democracy.[6][7]
Early life and education
Eisen’s parents immigrated to the United States following World War II. His mother was a survivor of the Czechoslovak Holocaust.[8][9] While growing up, he worked at his family’s hamburger stand in Los Angeles. He attended Hollywood High School.[10] With honors from both, he received his B.A. degree from Brown University in 1985 and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1991. While at Harvard, he met then-future president Barack Obama, who was also a first-year law student,[11][12] and then-future Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch.
Professional career
Early career
From 1985 to 1988, between college and law school, Eisen worked as the assistant director of the Los Angeles office of the Anti-Defamation League. He investigated antisemitism and other civil rights violations, promoted Holocaust education, and advanced U.S.–Israel relations.
After graduation from Harvard in 1991, Eisen practiced law in Washington, D.C. for more than 18 years with the Zuckerman Spaeder law firm. He was named as one of Washington’s top attorneys by Washingtonian magazine.[13] He specialized in investigations of complex financial fraud, including Enron, Refco, the ADM antitrust case, and the subprime financial collapse.[14]
In 2003, Eisen co-founded Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a government watchdog organization.[15]
Obama administration
From 2007 to 2009, Eisen was active in the presidential campaign of his law school classmate Barack Obama before joining the transition team of then-President-elect Obama as deputy counsel. On January 20, 2009, Obama named him special counsel for ethics and government reform in the White House.[16]
He earned the nickname “Dr. No” for his stringent ethics and anti-corruption efforts and became known for limiting registered lobbyists from taking positions in the administration. In Obama’s autobiography, A Promised Land, he recalls an instance in which Eisen was asked which out-of-town conferences administration officials would be admitted to attend; Eisen replied, “If it sounds fun, you can’t go.”[17] He is credited for helping compile President Obama’s ethics-related campaign promises into an executive order the president signed on his first day in office.[11]
During 2009 and 2010, Eisen also contributed to the administration’s open government efforts, including putting the White House visitor logs on the internet to promte transparency; its response to the campaign finance decision in Citizens United v. FEC; and its financial regulatory plan, which is the basis for Dodd–Frank. His other activities included reviewing the background of potential administration officials and expanding the application of the Freedom of Information Act.[14][16][18]
Eisen became the first ambassador to the Czech Republic nominated by President Obama.[19] President Obama initially gave Eisen a recess appointment, the term of which was for only one year, until the end of 2011, unless the full U.S. Senate confirmed him. Recess appointment was required because of a hold on Eisen’s nomination.[20][21] The leaders of several Washington good-government groups authored a letter in support of the appointment of Eisen.[22] Eisen’s nomination received bipartisan support, including from Republican senators and conservative foreign policy scholars. The Senate ultimately confirmed Eisen on December 12, 2011.[23][24]
As ambassador, he developed a “three pillars” approach to the U.S.–Czech relationship, emphasizing (1) strategic and defense cooperation; (2) commercial and economic ties; and (3) shared values. During his time as ambassador, he spent money out of his own wallet to maintain the ambassador’s residence and entertain dignitaries.[25][26]
Eisen visited Czech and U.S. troops serving side by side in Afghanistan. He advocated for U.S. business and saw bilateral trade increases of 50 percent with the Czech Republic during his tenure (more than three times the average for U.S. embassies in Europe at the time).[original research?] He also spoke out against corruption and in defense of civil rights.[27] Eisen has been credited with helping to deepen U.S.—Czech relations.[28] He also supported the Middle East peace process, including posting the first investment conference on the “Kerry Plan” in Prague together with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.”[29]
Eisen’s ambassadorship was noteworthy because his mother, a Czechoslovak Holocaust survivor, had been deported by the Nazis from that country to Auschwitz.[30] As Senator Joseph Lieberman noted in introducing Eisen at a Senate hearing: “It is indeed a profound historical justice… that the Ambassador’s residence in Prague, which was originally built by a Jewish family that was forced to flee Prague by the Nazis, who… took over that house as their headquarters, now 70 years later, is occupied by Norman and his family… The story of Norm Eisen and his family and their path back to Europe is a classic American story, a reflection of what our country is about at its very best. And that is also precisely why the Ambassador has proven to be such an effective representative of our nation, our interests, and our values.”[28]
Subsequent work
He joined the Brookings Institution as a visiting fellow in September 2014.[31] He became a senior fellow in their Governance Studies program and is the project chair of a research initiative on reducing corruption.[2] At Brookings Eisen has contributed to reports on open government,[32][33] the emoluments clause,[34] presidential obstruction of justice,[35] and anti-corruption efforts in the natural resource sector.[36]
A prolific writer, he often contributes op-ed pieces to The New York Times,[37][38] The Washington Post,[39] Politico,[40] USA Today,[41] and other national publications.
From 2016 to 2019, Eisen served as chair of the board and co-counsel on litigation matters for CREW, including emoluments cases in New York and Maryland federal courts (CREW v. Trump and D.C. and Maryland v. Trump, respectively).[4]
In 2017, Eisen was named number 11 on the Politico 50 list of thinkers shaping American politics.[42] Eisen has also been named to the Forward 50 list of American Jews.[2]
In September 2018, Crown published Eisen’s The Last Palace: Europe’s Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House.[43] It is a sweeping history of 1918 to 2018 as seen through the windows of the Villa Petschek, a Prague palace built by Jewish businessman Otto Petschek after World War I, occupied by the Nazis later, and then the residence the American ambassador in Prague during his term of office.[44]
In February 2019, Eisen was appointed consultant to the United States House Committee on the Judiciary. He assisted the committee on oversight matters related to the Department of Justice, including impeachment, and other oversight and policy issues within the committee’s jurisdiction.[45] A columnist at The Washington Post called Eisen a “critical force in building the case for impeachment.”[46] Eisen later wrote a book about his time as special counsel.[47]
He edited “Democracy’s Defenders: U.S. Embassy Prague, the Fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia, and Its Aftermath” (2020) and authored “A Case for the American People: The United States v. Donald J. Trump” (2020).[2][48]
With Colby Galliher, Eisen co-authored a book entitled, Overcoming Trumpery, which was published by Brookings Institution Press in 2022.[6][7]
States United
Eisen was a co-founder of the States United Democracy Center in 2021,[3] and in his States United capacity, he signed a bar complaint against John C. Eastman[49] and an ethics complaint filed against Jenna Ellis[50] for their roles in undermining the 2020 election results. He served as co-counsel on an amicus brief filed in opposition to Lindsey Graham‘s motion to quash a subpoena in the Fulton County Special Grand Jury investigation of attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.[51] Eisen has co-written reports for States United including a guide to the Electoral College vote count and the January 6, 2021, meeting of Congress.[52]
With his States United co-founders, Joanna Lydgate and Christine Todd Whitman, Eisen was a winner of the 2022 Brown Democracy Medal, given by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Pennsylvania State University.[53] Eisen departed States United in early 2024.[54]
In January 2025, States United began filing lawsuits against presidential executive orders signed by Trump following his inauguration.[citation needed]
Contrarian
In January 2025, Eisen and columnist Jen Rubin began authoring a Substack publication entitled The Contrarian.[55] Along with the articles posted to the publication, he has posted brief videos to the newsletter to provide the readers with breaking news regarding litigation as it progresses and to share insights into the processes.[56]
In popular culture
Director Wes Anderson has credited Ambassador Eisen as an inspiration for the character of Deputy Kovacs in his 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel. Anderson told Jeff Goldblum, who played Deputy Kovacs, “that he should go to Prague and see Norm; this is your man… The character of the lawyer Kovacs in the film maintains the awareness of law and justice… the character is actually a kind of ethics czar for the whole film.”[57] This is a reference to another one of Eisen’s White House nicknames: The Ethics Czar.[58] Anderson again referred to Eisen in the closing scene of Isle of Dogs, captioning a character as ethics czar in the new government of Megasaki.
Personal life
Eisen is married to Georgetown University professor Lindsay Kaplan with whom he has a daughter.[59][60]
References
- “New U.S. ambassador Eisen takes up office in Prague”. Czech News Agency. January 28, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- “Norman Eisen”. Brookings. March 31, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- “About”. States United Democracy Center. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- “Our Board – CREW”. CREW. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- Eisen, Norman (n.d.). Amazon Books. Headline Publishing. ISBN 1472237307.
- Eisen, Norman, and Galliher, Colby, Opinion: Once defeated, ‘Trumpery’ returns to the ballot in 2022, CNN, May 10, 2022, with video link
- Eisen, Norman; et al. (March 22, 2022). Eisen, Norman (ed.). Overcoming Trumpery: How to Restore Ethics, the Rule of Law, and Democracy. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-8157-3967-8.
- “Norman Eisen, an old friend of Obama’s from Harvard Law School, is bolstering the forces of liberalism as ambassador to the Czech Republic”. Tabletmag.com. January 19, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- Josephs, Allison (June 20, 2023). “Orthodox Jewish All Star, Norm Eisen, US Amb To Czech Republic”. Jew in the City. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- “Will Norman Eisen be the Next Ambassador to the Czech Republic?”. All Gov. June 28, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- Saslow, Eli (March 13, 2009). “When White House Has Queries About Ethics Rules, Adviser Norm Eisen Answers the Call”. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- Goldman, T.R. (October 14, 2013). “The world of Norm Eisen, U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic”. The Washington Post. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
- [1][dead link]
- “Norman Eisen”. The Washington Post. July 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013.
- “President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 6/28/10”. whitehouse.gov. White House. June 28, 2010. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2012 – via National Archives.
- Greenberg, Richard (January 12, 2011). “An appointment with history Bootstraps and all, diplomat comes full circle”. Washington Jewish Week. Archived from the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- Obama, Barack (November 17, 2020). A Promised Land. New York: Crown. p. 534. ISBN 9781524763169.
- “‘Dr. No’ Becomes Diplomat, Continues A Family Story”. NPR. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- “Czech Republic – Chiefs of Mission – People – Department History – Office of the Historian”. history.state.gov. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- Rogin, Josh (October 6, 2010). “Another Obama ambassadorial nominee held up indefinitely”. Foreign Policy. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- Ornstein, Norman J (December 12, 2011). “The Senate Vote on Norm Eisen”. American Enterprise Institute. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- Bass, Gary; et al. (December 7, 2010). “Dear Senator Kerry” (PDF). normaneisen.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- O’Sullivan and Weinstein, John and Kenneth (December 8, 2011). “Confirm Eisen Now”. The National Review. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- “United States Senate Periodical Press Gallery”. www.periodicalpress.senate.gov.
- Norm Eisen [@NormEisen] (September 14, 2018). “I paid for my own damn curtains when I was an ambassador”. Archived from the original on September 15, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018 – via Twitter.
- “Norm Eisen on Twitter”. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- Shapiro, Ari (February 18, 2014). “For U.S. Ambassador, Ties To Prague That Transcend Diplomacy”. NPR. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- “Nominations [Eisen, Ricciardone, Ford]” (PDF). US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. August 2, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- Johnson, Raymond (March 8, 2014). “Blair, Albright see stronger Palestinian economy as path to peace”. The Prague Post. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
- Fairclough, Gordon (December 27, 2012). “Transforming a Home’s Dark History”. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- “Ambassador (Ret.) Normal L. Eisen” (PDF). Brookings Institution. February 5, 2019.
- “Why Critics of Transparency are Wrong”. Brookings Institution. February 5, 2019.
- “The Impact of Open Government: Assessing the Evidence”. Brookings Institution. February 5, 2019.
- “The Emoluments Clause: Its Text, Meaning, and Application to Donald J. Trump”. Brookings Institution. February 5, 2019.
- “Presidential Obstruction of Justice: The Case of Donald J. Trump”. Brookings Institution. February 5, 2019.
- “Annotated Bibliography: Transparency, Accountability, and Participation along the Natural Resource Value Chain”. Brookings Institution. February 5, 2019.
- Berke, Barry; Bookbinder, Noah; Eisen, Norman (December 7, 2018). “Is This the Beginning of the End for Trump?”. The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Eisen, Norman, “A History Lesson in Optimism,” The New York Times, September 30, 2018, p.2
- Schaub Jr., Walter M.; Painter, Richard; Eisen, Norman (December 21, 2018). “In a normal administration, Whitaker would listen to government ethics experts”. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Eisen, Norman; Wertheimer, Fred (January 7, 2019). “How to Fix America’s Broken Political System”. Politico. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Wertheimer, Fred; Eisen, Norman (January 2, 2019). “Trump illegally asked Russia to help him win in 2016. He shouldn’t get away with it”. USA Today. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- Samuelson, Darren (September 8, 2017). “Politico 50: Norm Eisen”. Politico. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- “The Last Palace Official Website”. Crown Group. February 5, 2019.
- Moorehead, Caroline (August 30, 2018). “History Happened Here”. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- “Chairman Nadler Announces Special Oversight Counsels to House Judiciary Committee Staff”. U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- “An unassuming mover in impeachment departs the House”. Washington Post. February 25, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- “A Case for the American People”. Amazon. n.d. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- “Norm Eisen on Amazon”. Amazon. n.d.
- States United Democracy Center; Lawyers Defending American Democracy (August 11, 2022). “Re: Request for Investigation of John Charles Eastman” (PDF).
- States United Democracy Center (May 4, 2022). “Re: Request for Investigation of Jenna L. Ellis (also known as Jenna Lynn Rives), Colorado Registration Number 44026” (PDF).
- “Motion for leave to file brief as amici curiae in opposition to United States senator Lindsey Graham’s expedited motion to quash, Case No. 1:22-cv-03027-LMM, ECF No. 8, (N.D. Ga. August 4, 2022)”.
- Matz, Joshua; Eisen, Norman; Singh, Harmann (January 4, 2021). “Guide to Counting Electoral College Votes and The January 6, 2021, Meeting of Congress” (PDF). States United Democracy Center.
- Spinelle, Jenna (March 21, 2022). “McCourtney Institute names recipients of 2022 Brown Democracy Medal”. Pennsylvania State University.
- https://x.com/JHWeissmann/status/1894857085596152223
- Stelter, Brian (January 13, 2025). “Jen Rubin exits Washington Post, joins Norm Eisen to launch new outlet countering ‘authoritarian threat'”. cnn.com.
- Eisen, Norm, My response to Donald Trump’s DOJ attack, The Contrarian, Substack, March 14, 2025
- Anyz, Daniel (March 14, 2014). “Wes Anderson and Norman Eisen: Two Americans In Prague”. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
- Bogardus, Kevin (January 13, 2011). “Departing White House ethics czar sees no let-up in drive for transparency”. The Hill. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- Goldman, T.R. (October 14, 2013). “The world of Norm Eisen, U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic”. The Washington Post.
- Kirchick, James (January 19, 2012). “Norman Eisen, Obama’s Ambassador to Prague, Bolsters Liberalism”. Tablet.
External links
- Official website
- Brookings Institution page
- “The Last Palace” book website
- Bio of Ambassador Eisen from the homepage of The U.S. Embassy In The Czech Republic
- Ambassador Eisen’s blog
- The Former White House Ethics Lawyer Umpiring Trump’s Washington (from The Washington Monthly)
- Eternal Optimist (from Mispacha Magazine)
- “The Worst Hour of His Entire Life”: Cohen, Manafort, and the Twin Courtroom Dramas that Changed Trump’s Presidency (from The New Yorker)
- When White House Has Queries About Ethics Rules, Adviser Norm Eisen Answers the Call (from The Washington Post)
- Is Trump Inc. the President’s Greatest Vulnerability? (from New York Magazine)
- ‘It’s Like a Powder Keg That’s Going to Explode’ (from Politico)
- Transforming a Home’s Dark History (from The Wall Street Journal)
- NPR article on Eisen’s Ambassadorship
- HN Weekend article about Eisen’s influence on Wes Anderson’s “Grand Budapest Hotel”
- White House press release announcing Eisen as the new Ambassador to the Czech Republic
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- 1960 births
- 20th-century American Jews
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 21st-century American Jews
- 21st-century American diplomats
- 21st-century American lawyers
- Ambassadors of the United States to the Czech Republic
- American expatriates in the Czech Republic
- American lawyers
- American political consultants
- Brown University alumni
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Hollywood High School alumni
- Lawyers from Los Angeles
- Living people
- Obama administration personnel
- Recess appointments
- Washington, D.C., Democrats
CREW and National Security Archive v. Trump and EOP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CREW_and_National_Security_Archive_v._Trump_and_EOP
CREW and National Security Archive v. Trump and EOP
| CREW and National Security Archive v. Trump and EOP | |
|---|---|
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| Court | United States District Court for the District of Columbia |
| Full case name | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and National Security Archive v. Donald J. Trump, in his official capacity as President of the United States of America and the Executive Office of the President |
| Decided | Pending (filed June 22, 2017) |
| Defendants | Donald Trump in his capacity as President Executive Office of the President |
| Counsel for plaintiffs | George M. Clarke III Mireille R. Oldak Anne L. Weismann Angela C. Vigil Conor M. Shaw[1] |
| Plaintiffs | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington National Security Archive |
| Citation | No. 1:17-cv-01228 |
| Court membership | |
| Judge sitting | Christopher R. Cooper |
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and National Security Archive v. Trump and EOP, No. 1:17-cv-01228 (D.D.C. 2017), is a case pending before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs, the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and the archivist National Security Archive, allege that the defendants, President Donald Trump and elements of the Executive Office of the President, are in violation of the Presidential Records Act by deleting electronic messages on Twitter and using other electronic messaging applications without required archival records.[2]
Background
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) had previously filed an emoluments case against the president, CREW v. Trump, where they alleged the President had been in violation of the constitution since the inauguration. The National Security Archive at George Washington University is a repository of declassified U.S. documents outside of the federal government. CREW and the National Security Archive are represented in this suit by both CREW staff lawyers and external counsel from the multinational law firm Baker McKenzie.[1] The United States Department of Justice represents Trump.
President Trump had used Twitter as a communication medium during his campaign and during his tenure as president, including tweets on inauguration day.[3] CREW contends that deletion of tweets is the destruction of presidential records in violation of the Presidential Records Act of 1981.
According to the text of the complaint:
This is a civil action for declaratory, injunctive, and mandamus relief brought under the Presidential Records Act, 44 U.S.C. §§ 2201–2209 (“PRA”); the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202; and Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, which imposes on the President a duty to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” challenging actions of the President, his staff, and the Executive Office of the President (“EOP”) (collectively, the “Defendants”) that seek to evade transparency and government accountability.[4]
Specific allegations
- Trump deleted tweets in violation of the Presidential Records Act of 1981.[5]
- The White House used encrypted and auto-deleting messaging applications which CREW alleges interferes with other federal agencies from fulfilling their obligations.[6]
Opinion
The District Court ruled in favor of the Trump Administration, stating that the plaintiffs had failed to a clear and indisputable harm that merited the requested writ of mandamus.[7][8] Thus, the case was dismissed and the administration was not required to restore the deleted communications. The plaintiffs appealed this decision,[9] but the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling.[10]
See also
References
- Complaint, Docket 1, p. 38
- “CREW Sues President Trump over Presidential Records” (Press release). Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- Tweet dated 20 Jan 2017
- Complaint, Docket 1, p. 1
- “Trump sued for deleting tweets and White House use of encrypted messaging apps”. Newsweek. June 22, 2017.
- “Trump Sued by Watchdog Group Over Auto-Delete Messaging Apps”. Bloomberg. June 22, 2017.
- “CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:17-cv-01228-CRC”. PACER. November 2, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
- Lima, Cristiano (March 20, 2018). “Judge dismisses lawsuit on Trump aides’ use of encrypted apps”. Politico. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- “Transmission of the Notice of Appeal, Order Appealed (Memorandum Opinion), and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals.” (PDF), CREW v. Trump (Court Filing), no. 1:17-cv-01228, Docket 26, D.D.C., June 22, 2017, retrieved June 14, 2018 – via Recap
- Citizens for Responsibility v. Trump, 924 F.3d 602 (D.C. Cir., 2019).
External links
- Complaint, Docket 1 (PDF), D.D.C., June 22, 2017
- Copy of complaint filed in United States District Court (PDF, 38 pages)
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia cases
- Donald Trump and social media
- Donald Trump litigation
Crew statement on Norm Eisen
https://www.citizensforethics.org/news/press-releases/crew-statement-on-norman-eisen/
CREW statement on Norman Eisen
Contact: Jordan Libowitz
202-408-5565 | jlibowitz@citizensforethics.org
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Executive Director Noah Bookbinder released the following statement:
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2a7b920b99081ef1278c0a0633ba1650/BD%20INC%20Scalia%20CMS%20TT%202013)
Editor’s note: This story is updated throughout.
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, 79, was found dead of apparent natural causes Saturday morning at the Cibolo Creek Ranch resort near Marfa, Presidio County officials confirmed.
Presidio County Judge Cinderella Guevara pronounced Scalia dead after 1 p.m., Justice of the Peace David Beebe told The Texas Tribune.
Scalia, appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, was found in his room at the Cibolo Creek Ranch after he did not appear for breakfast, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
The longest-serving justice on the court, Scalia was known for his conservative judicial philosophy. His death will have a major impact on the nation’s highest court, which now has four justices appointed by Democratic presidents and four appointed by Republicans.
Because of the contentious nature of the cases heard by the Supreme Court, the nomination of prospective justices is highly politicized. Nominees go through a two-step process to earn their spot on the court: They must be appointed by the president and then confirmed by the U.S. Senate, whose majority is currently held by the GOP.
On Saturday evening, Obama said he fully intends to put forward a nominee in the coming weeks to succeed Scalia.
With more than a year to go left in his term, Obama said he is confident he has enough time to fulfill his “constitutional responsibility” to make an appointment. The Senate must also “fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely hearing,” he said.
Supreme Court justice nominations are “bigger than any one party,” Obama added.
One candidate reported to be on the shortlist, Judge Sri Srinivasan of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, was appointed to that court by unanimous Senate vote in 2013.
The prospects for an Obama appointee being confirmed before his term ends in January are slim to none, according to Sanford Levinson, a constitutional law expert at the University of Texas at Austin.
“Obama might nominate somebody, but the odds of that vacancy being filled before next year approach zero,” Levinson said. “The Republican Party won’t accept anybody who would be nominated by Obama.”
“They’re going to have to get used to being an eight-person court for at least the next year,” he added.
Obama successfully appointed two current justices, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, during his first term in office, when the Senate had a Democratic majority.
Until the vacancy on the court is filled, the Supreme Court will continue to hear cases as an eight-member body. Cases that result in 4-4 votes automatically revert to the ruling of the lower court that had most recently heard them. The justices may choose to “push over” cases that they have already accepted until after a ninth member can be confirmed.
The justices had already heard two controversial Texas-centered cases this term: Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin, regarding the college’s affirmative action policies, and Evenwel v. Abbott, about the “one person, one vote” principle by which state legislative districts are determined. The Supreme Court has not issued a ruling on either case.
The Supreme Court accepted two additional Texas cases — one focused on immigration, the other on abortion — but had not yet heard oral arguments in either one.
In Texas v. United States, lawyers for the state are challenging a controversial executive order, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, which would shield more than 4 million undocumented immigrants from deportation proceedings.
In the abortion case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, abortion providers are challenging House Bill 2, the state’s 2013 abortion law. If the Supreme Court rules that HB2 is constitutional, it could result in the shuttering of about half the state’s 19 remaining abortion clinics.
It didn’t take long after Scalia’s death for politics to come into view. Within an hour of the first news reports, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a leading Republican candidate for president, tweeted that he believed the justice should not be replaced until President Obama is out of office.
“Justice Scalia was an American hero,” Cruz tweeted. “We owe it to him, & the Nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next President names his replacement.”
Scalia was the second-oldest justice behind Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is 82. Ginsburg’s age and her health have been the frequent focus of Democrats, who had urged her to retire while Obama is still in office.
Cibolo Creek Ranch
Where 19th Century Atmosphere Meets Modern Luxury
Cibolo Creek Ranch is in the heart of Big Bend Country at the foothills of the Chinati Mountains, 30 miles from the art town of Marfa, TX. Established in the mid-1800s by Milton Faver, the ranch resort spans 30,000-acres and offers a peaceful escape for those seeking to enjoy modern comfort in a rustic destination or experience astonishing ranch adventures. This destination is perfect for leisure travel, family getaways, weddings, corporate events and historical explorations.
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History of the Ranch
Cibolo Creek Ranch is one of the oldest ranches in Texas, where historical artifacts, art and antiques combine to create an authentic 19th-century atmosphere. The ranch dwellings evoke a sense of togetherness, culminating at mealtime, where guests come together for communal dining and share their daily experiences.
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John B. Poindexter
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › John_B._Poindexter
He is the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (dba JB Poindexter & Co) and owner of Cibolo Creek Ranch.
John B. Poindexter
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John B. Poindexter
|
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|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John B. Poindexter
1944 (age 80–81) |
| Alma mater | UARK, BS (Hons) (1966) NYU, MBA (1971) NYU, PhD (1976) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1967–1971 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Awards |  Silver Star Medal Soldier’s Medal Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart Medal (2) Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Cross of Gallantry |
John B. Poindexter (born 1944) is an American businessman and former soldier. He is the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (dba JB Poindexter & Co) and owner of Cibolo Creek Ranch.[1]
Early life and education
Poindexter was born in Houston, Texas.[1]
He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Honors.[1] After several years’ military service, he entered New York University, where an MBA in 1971 was followed by a Ph.D. in Economics and Finance in 1976.[1][2]
Military service and aftermath
Poindexter joined OCS in 1967 and graduated that July. After three years with L Troop of the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in Germany, and then Troop Commander in Fort Lewis, WA), he joined the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam in 1970. Initially serving as Commander of Headquarters Troop, he was then appointed as Commander of 1st Squadron’s A Troop.[3][4]
On March 26, 1970, the hundred-strong Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, unwittingly entered into an area of dense jungle containing a complex of North Vietnamese bunkers and were pinned down by approximately 400 NVA troops.
Captains Poindexter and Ray Armer (of the 2nd Battalion’s airborne infantry Alpha Company) heard their call for assistance, and in the absence of orders from Command, Poindexter directed Alpha Troop to aid Charlie Company. In the resulting battle, 20 U.S. troops were wounded, including Poindexter, and there were at least two fatalities. At dusk, with concern that the night would advantage the North Vietnamese, Poindexter ordered a full retreat.[5][6][7][8]
During the next few months before he returned to the United States, Poindexter applied for dozens of decorations to be awarded to members of his troop,[9] and wrote an unpublished account of the battle.
In 1999 he used this account to develop a presentation on small unit leadership for an 11th Cavalry professional development program,[4] and subsequently revised it for publication in Armor in 2000.[10]
As a nation, we have an obligation to this troop. Their actions that day went largely unnoticed — for decades — until their old captain, John Poindexter, realized that their service had been overlooked… And so he spent years tracking down his troopers and gathering their stories, filing reports, fighting for the Silver Stars and Bronze Stars they deserved and bringing us to this day.
Thank you, John.
In 2002, he discovered through reading Keith W. Nolan‘s Into Cambodia that the decorations he had applied for on behalf of members of Alpha Troop had never been awarded. He resubmitted applications for award in 2003, but only 14 additional individual awards were made.[11] To remedy this, he coordinated a team of a hundred volunteers to help obtain and compile evidence from both documentary and eyewitness sources, and self-published The Anonymous Battle (2004), an account based on his manuscript and the collected evidence.[6][9]
Because the time elapsed was significant, and consequently not all individual medal claims could be sufficiently substantiated, Poindexter sought award of a Presidential Unit Citation to provide recognition to all members of Alpha Troop.[12]
During his campaign for recognition, he obtained support from generals including Brigadier General John Bahnsen, the retired commander of the 11th Cavalry’s 1st Squadron, as well as from Texas Senator John Cornyn, who submitted the dossier in 2004 to the then-Secretary of the Army. In late 2008, award of a Presidential Unit Citation was approved;[6][9] this was unveiled in California (11th Cavalry being stationed at Fort Irwin) in September, 2009. On October 20, 2009, President Barack Obama presented attending Alpha Troop veterans with the Presidential Unit Citation at the White House.[6][7]
Philip Keith’s 2012 Blackhorse Riders: A Desperate Last Stand, an Extraordinary Rescue Mission, and the Vietnam Battle America Forgot details the action and Poindexter’s campaign for its recognition.[13]
Awards and decorations
For his military service, Poindexter was awarded the Silver Star, the Soldier’s Medal, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star.[4][14]
Career
Business
Poindexter joined Salomon Brothers as an investment banker in New York City in 1971 while completing his doctorate,[9] and until 1985 worked in Venture Capital including a vice presidency at Smith Barney. In 1985, he founded J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.,[15] one of the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial truck bodies.[16][17] JB Poindexter & Co is a business enterprise that provides commercial automotive and manufacturing goods and services. The business units include Morgan Truck Group, Morgan Olson, Reading Truck, Truck Accessories Group, EFP Corporation, FederalEagle, MIC Group, Masterack, EAVX and Morgan Transit Corporation.
Ranching and Land Conservation
Poindexter acquired Cibolo Creek Ranch in 1990, and operates it as a luxury historical resort.[9][18] Poindexter started the Tidewater and Big Bend Foundation, dedicated to acquiring, restoring, landscaping and furnishing ante bellum houses and properties in New Kent County, VA, Charles City County, VA and Shafter, TX.
Poindexter holds a leadership position in the International Order of St. Hubertus, a hunting society. Antonin Scalia died at Poindexter’s Cibolo Creek Ranch in February 2016.[19]
References
- Spong, John (February 2006). “The Man in the White Hat”. Texas Monthly. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- “2010 Awards” (PDF). NYU Stern. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
- Schmidt, Chuck. “Poindexter to be Featured Speaker at Reunion Banquet” (PDF). Thunder Run. 21 (3) (Q3 2006 ed.): 1, 4. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- “Armor” (PDF) (January–February 2000 ed.). 2000: 18–33. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Lee, Jesse (October 20, 2009). “Saddle Up and Move Out”. whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 28 February 2016 – via National Archives.
- Dao, James (September 30, 2009). “After 39 Years, Soldiers Honored for Vietnam Rescue Mission”. New York Times. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- “No longer the Anonymous Battle: Vietnam unit awarded”. Seattle Times. October 21, 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- Keith, Philip (29 October 2013). Fire Base Illingworth. Macmillan. pp. 29–34. ISBN 9781250024961. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- Helman, Christopher (September 20, 2009). “Fighting A Two-Front War”. Forbes. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
- “Veterans who saved 100 soldiers ask Obama to present citation”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 30, 2009. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- “Vietnam-era captain campaigns for soldiers’ recognition”. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- “The Final Battle”. NYU Alumni Magazine. Fall 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- “Blackhorse Riders”. Kirkus Reviews. 5 Dec 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- Keith, Philip (14 February 2012). Blackhorse Riders: A Desperate Last Stand, an Extraordinary Rescue Mission. ISBN 9781429940955. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
- “Overview of J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc”. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- Hall, Christine. “John Poindexter fights for his brethren and wins”. Houston Business Journal. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- Helman, Christopher (September 30, 2009). “Fighting A Two-Front War”. Forbes. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
Since the early 1990s, John Poindexter has built his Houston company, J.B. Poindexter & Co. into the world’s largest ($550 million sales) maker of truck bodies for the likes of Ryder, Penske, UPS and Fedex.
- O’Connor, Louise; Thompson, Cecilia (16 October 2014). Marfa and Presidio County, Texas. ISBN 9781499010084.
- Brittain, Amy; Horwitz, Sari (February 24, 2016). “Justice Scalia spent his last hours with members of this secretive society of elite hunters”. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
External links
- 1944 births
- Living people
- United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
- American chief executives of financial services companies
- American corporate directors
- American financial traders
- Businesspeople from Houston
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Soldier’s Medal
- United States Army soldiers
- New York University alumni
- University of Arkansas alumni
Deum Diligite Animalia Diligentes
Honoring God by Honoring His Creatures
Welcome to the website of
the International Order of St. Hubertus
The International Order of St. Hubertus is a true knightly order in the historical tradition. The Order is under the Royal Protection of His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain, the Grand Master Emeritus is His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Andreas Salvator von Habsburg-Lothringen of Austria, and our current Grand Master is His Imperial and Royal Highness Istvan von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Hungary.
The International Order of St. Hubertus is comprised of an international group of individuals, Ordensbrothers, who are passionate about the sports of hunting and fishing, and who are vitally interested and actively involved in the preservation of wildlife, its habitat, and the tradition of ethical hunting and fishing. Ordensbrothers include dedicated upland bird hunters, duck hunters, and hunters of larger and big game. A number of Ordensbrothers are also avid freshwater and fly fishermen, as well as big game fishermen. One constant among all Ordensbrothers, however, is that these hunting and fishing pursuits and the preservation of wildlife, habitat, and our hunting and fishing heritage and traditions is a real and personal interest. Ordensbrothers are individuals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in their careers and personal lives, and who have been recognized as ethical hunters or fishermen, and in their communities, professions, or in other organizations as having made a significant contribution. Members are not solicited. Membership is by invitation only, and upon sponsorship by existing Ordensbrothers.
Mission and Purposes of the Order
The International Order of St. Hubertus is an ancient knightly organization of like-minded sportsmen, hunters and anglers, who enjoy the fellowship of the Order and who share the same principles regarding sportsmanlike conduct, ethical hunting and fishing, and the conservation and preservation of wildlife and its habitat all over the world. Each Ordensbrother subscribes to the following principles and acts on them individually on his own volition.
- To promote sportsmanlike conduct in hunting and fishing
- To foster good fellowship among sportsmen
from all over the world - To teach and preserve sound traditional
hunting and fishing customs - To encourage wildlife conservation and to help
protect endangered species from extinction - To promote the concept of hunting and fishing
as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity - To endeavor to ensure that the economic benefits
derived from sports hunting and fishing support
the regions where these activities are carried out - To strive to enhance respect for responsible hunters and fishermen
Contact Us
The International Order of St. Hubertus
2021 L Street, NW
Suite 101-288
Washington DC, 20036
The Order Today
The International Order of St. Hubertus is an international fraternal organization with a prestigious, largely European, history spanning several centuries. The members of the Order devote themselves to traditional hunting and fishing pursuits, the improvement of wildlife habitat and the conservation of game species.
The IOSH is headed by a Grand Master, currently, his Imperial Highness Archduke Istvan von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, and its ‘Protector’ is His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain. Archduke Istvan is supported in his governance of the Order by the officers of the Grand Chapter. The Grand Chapter is composed of the ‘Grand Priors’, or leaders of the national jurisdictions in which the Order is established, members of the staff of the Grand Chapter and three Counselors.
The Grand Master and Grand Chapter supervise Chapters in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the Benelux countries in Europe. In the Americas, Chapters are located in the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Canada. The traditional headquarters of the Order is the principal residence of the Grand Master, currently the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The total membership of approximately 1000 is divided into Ordensbrothers and Squires, with the latter being applicants approved for induction. The largest of the Chapters is the United States with something more than 600 Ordensbrothers and Squires who are divided among eight regional ‘Priories’.
Each Chapter conducts a variety of activities within its jurisdiction and coordinates with the Grand Chapter to host sporting excursions and an annual Investiture celebration. Interchanges between Chapters are fairly common and some, like the United States and Mexico, maintain close ties.
The leading social event each year is the Investiture weekend during which Squires are inducted or ‘knighted’ as ‘Ordensbrothers’. There is at least one investiture weekend each year, generally in the United States although Spain, Portugal and Mexico have had recent Investitures. In addition to the formal gala and the dining and touring events that grace the weekend, the Investiture ceremony itself is a white-tie and tails formal event.
While the International Order is not a religious organization, the Investiture ceremony generally is held in a Catholic Cathedral and observes limited, non-denominational rites. Prominently featured in the proceedings is a relic of St. Hubertus dating from the seventh-century that was authenticated in the nineteenth century by authorities appointed by the Catholic Church. The relic is accompanied by a magnificent collection of imperial German and Austrian hunting trophies that are displayed in the Cathedral during the ceremony.
The International Order of St. Hubertus grows by invitation only and, although recent years have witnessed an increase in membership, the Order has no aspiration to expand to sizable proportions. The Grand Master intends to add chapters in the Americas and in European nations selectively in the years ahead.
The History of St. Hubertus
THE LEGEND OF ST. HUBERTUS
HISTORICAL NOTE: The following is the Legend of St. Hubertus as popularized through the ages. Historical writings and source documents have been consulted and verification of dates and facts has been made where possible. However, as with any history which spans 1,000 years, complete accuracy is difficult to achieve and cannot be assured.
Saint Hubertus, Bishop of Liege (c. 656–727 A.D.)
Hubert was noble-born circa 656AD into French nobility, probably in the European city of Toulouse. He was the eldest son of Bertrand, Duke of Aquintaine, and, thus, heir to the Duchy and all of the appurtenant wealth and hereditaments. Hubert was also the grandson of Charibert, King of Toulouse, and a descendant of the legendary Pharamond, King of Francs.
As legend has it, Hubertus was raised among the splendors of court life and was afforded the finer things in life, including the best education, military training, and ample time for leisure. He had vast wealth, influence and importance, and was described as intelligent, physically handsome, energetic and personable.
At an early age, Hubert was drawn to one of the pleasurable activities of young nobles, the hunt, called la chasse. In fact, the hunt of animals was the primary activity in which he spent his days. His love for the chase was such that he gradually stopped practicing any religious affiliation, instead spending his days in the fields and woods, trapping and hunting.
It is said that Hubert was a renowned bowman, often exhibiting his marksmanship in competitions. He devoted most of his time, even on holy days, to the hunt, a sacrilege in the God-centered times of the Middle Ages.
According to legend, at the Court of Theuduric in Metz Hubert met Floribanne, daughter of a noble, who, while a pious and devoted Christian, liked to ride and frequently accompanied Hubert on his hunts. In 682, they married to great court pomp and ceremony. A son, Floribert, was born to them. Shortly after giving birth, however, Floribanne became ill and she died at the beginning of Holy Week in 684.
As the legend continues, on that Good Friday morning, when the faithful were crowding the churches, Hubert went out to hunt. As he was pursuing a magnificent stag, the animal turned and Hubert was astounded to see a vision of a crucifix standing between its antlers.
He heard a voice from Heaven saying: “Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you shall quickly go down into Hell.” Hubert dismounted and fell to his knees saying, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?”. The Heavenly Voice replied, “Go and seek Bishop Lambert, and he will instruct you.”.
After his vision, Hubert renounced all of his royal titles and hereditaments. This included the right to succeed his father as Duke of Aquitane, which he conferred upon his younger brother, Eudon, in whose care he also placed his infant son, He gave his considerable wealth and possessions to the poor, and set out immediately for Maastricht where Bishop Lambert received Hubert kindly, and became his spiritual advisor.
Lambert directed Hubert to go and live among the people and creatures of the nearby forest of the Ardennes, and to devote himself to prayer and study. Hubert did so, and studied for the priesthood, into which he was soon ordained, and shortly afterwards became one of Bishop Lambert’s chief associates in the administration of his diocese. Hubert made a pilgrimage to Rome in 708, during which Bishop Lambert was assassinated. Pope Sergius I consecrated Hubert as 31st Bishop of Maastricht. He later became first Bishop of Liege, and was widely known as the Apostle of the Ardennes.
Bishop Hubert was diligent in fasting and prayer, and became famous for his eloquence in the pulpit. He remained steadfast in his concern for the needs of the people and creatures of the forest and set out to convert the pagans and bandits of the Ardennes Forest. It is said that he made many forays into the forest for that purpose, and used his considerable archery skills to gain their respect and trust, at which time they became more receptive to the Gospel. Hubert was ultimately able to convert many of these people to Christianity. He became an advocate for the people of the forest and his wise judgment and intercession was frequently sought in many matters, including those involving the forest, wildlife, and hunting.
Bishop Hubertus had unusual healing powers which he used to relieve people of various afflictions, and these miraculous acts became widely known. The faithful began making pilgrimages to Hubertus’ Cathedral in Liege to seek his help, and many miraculous acts by Hubertus were chronicled.
On May 30th, 727, Hubert died peacefully at the age of 71 in Fura, now Tervueren, located 30 miles from Liège. He was buried in the college church of St. Peter, Liège. In 825, Bishop Hubert’s remains were exhumed and transferred to the Benedictine Abbey of Amdain, the present day Saint Hubertus, Belgium.
Soon, the stories of miraculous events of healing at Hubertus’ tomb spread. Over the following centuries, frequent pilgrimages of believers have been made to Hubertus’ tomb.
Hubertus was canonized St. Hubertus in 743 AD. St. Hubertus is recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican/Episcopal churches. St. Hubertus is the patron saint of hunters, hunting dogs, archers and bowmen, and the inhabitants of the forest. St. Hubertus is also the patron saint of Liege and Saint-Lamberge, Belgium. His Feast Day is November 3rd.
Saint Hubertus was widely venerated during the Middle Ages and, it is said, partly because of his noble birth, several military orders were named after him. The first to be associated with St. Hubertus was the Order of St. Hubertus created by Ludwig I of Bar and Lorraine on May 31, 1416. Other past orders honoring St. Hubertus were Bavarian and Bohemian orders, the Fraternity of St. Hubert Knight, and the Order of the Golden Stag, founded in 1672 by the Duke of Brieg, whose emblem was a golden leaf with the imprint of a deer. The Order of St. Hubertus was established in 1695 by Count Anton von Spork to honor the name and memory of St. Hubertus and to promote responsible and ethical hunting and wildlife conservation. This organization continues today as the International Order of St. Hubertus.
History of the Order
HISTORICAL NOTE: The following History contains a rendition of the Legend of St. Hubertus as popularized through the ages. Historical writings and source documents have been consulted and verification of dates and facts has been made where possible. However, as with any history which spans 1,000 years, complete accuracy is difficult to achieve and cannot be assured.
THE LEGEND OF ST. HUBERTUS
&
THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER
The International Order of St. Hubertus
St. Hubert was born circa A.D. 656, probably in Toulouse, the son of the Duke of Aquitaine. He was prominent in the Merovingian Court at Metz, and after the death of his wife following childbirth, was devoted to all forms of pleasure, particularly stag hunting.
According to legend, on Good Friday c. 684, as he was hunting stags in the forest of Ardennes rather than attending church services, he came upon a magnificent animal which he was intending to take, until he saw that the stag had a golden cross between his horns. At that point St. Hubert had a Holy vision that he was to forsake his hedonistic ways, divest all of his worldly possessions and devote his fortune and life to helping the poor. After a subsequent life of piety, he became a very respected and successful Bishop. He died in A.D. 727 and his remains were translated to Amdain (now Saint- Hubert, Belgium).
St. Hubert was widely venerated during the Middle Ages and thereafter. His grave has been a pilgrimage site for nearly 1300 years. His symbol — the stag’s head and golden cross — is a familiar sight all over Europe.
In A.D. 1695, Austro-Hungarian Count Franz Anton Sporck instituted the Order of St. Hubertus to honor St. Hubert’s memory and to promote responsible hunting and wildlife conservation. This order continues to this day as the International Order of St. Hubertus. The motto of the Order is “Deum Diligite Animalia Diligetes,” or “Honor God by Honoring His Creatures.”
The date of November 3rd is the Feast Day of St. Hubertus. It is celebrated each year at the Basilica where he is buried as well as throughout the hunting world in Europe. At the Basilica the hunting horns are blown and hunters on horses with their barking dogs enter into the church for a blessing. The members of IOSH celebrate St. Hubert’s Feast Day with dinners and/or shooting activities.
The convulsions of World Wars I & II led to the dissolution of the Order. After the Second World War, however, the Order was revived by U.S. Ambassador to Austria and American High Commissioner Llewellyn Thompson, along with Commanding General Mark W. Clark, U.K. Ambassador Sir Harold Caccia, the British High Commissioner, Dr. Albert Messany of Austria and Austrian Chancellor Leopold Figl.
The current Grand Master is His Imperial and Royal Highness, Istvan Franz von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria and Royal Prince of Hungary.
Consistent with the creed of the Order, the Grand Master invites outstanding sportsmen who share a passion for hunting, fishing, and conservation, to become Knights of the Order and thereafter to promote sportsmanlike hunting, wildlife conservation, protection of the environment and wildlife habitat, traditional hunting customs and ceremonies, and good fellowship among sportsmen.
The Order in America
- 1968
- George Wood was appointed Grand Prior and founded the American Chapter in 1968. The first Investiture of American Knights took place at the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. The ceremony was presided over by then Grand Master Messany. View ceremony program here.
- 1975
- Grand Master Messany retired and George Wood was elected Grand Master. OB Wood was followed by Karl Weber in 1979.
- 1985
- Grand Master Weber asked Archduke Andreas Salvatore von Habsburg-Lothringen to act as Protector of the Order.
- 1991
- On January 8, Grand Master Weber asked Archduke Andreas to take the office of Grand Master. Archduke Andreas did so and His Majesty Juan Carlos, King of Spain, assumed the position of Protector of the Order.
- 2013
- In March of 2013 HIH Archduke Istvan von Habsburg-Lothringen became the fifth Grand Master of the Order since the Restitution. Archduke Andreas assumed the office of Grand Master Emeritus and King Juan Carlos continues to offer the order his protection.
History of the Order
HISTORICAL NOTE: The following History contains a rendition of the Legend of St. Hubertus as popularized through the ages. Historical writings and source documents have been consulted and verification of dates and facts has been made where possible. However, as with any history which spans 1,000 years, complete accuracy is difficult to achieve and cannot be assured.
THE LEGEND OF ST. HUBERTUS
&
THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER
The International Order of St. Hubertus
St. Hubert was born circa A.D. 656, probably in Toulouse, the son of the Duke of Aquitaine. He was prominent in the Merovingian Court at Metz, and after the death of his wife following childbirth, was devoted to all forms of pleasure, particularly stag hunting.
According to legend, on Good Friday c. 684, as he was hunting stags in the forest of Ardennes rather than attending church services, he came upon a magnificent animal which he was intending to take, until he saw that the stag had a golden cross between his horns. At that point St. Hubert had a Holy vision that he was to forsake his hedonistic ways, divest all of his worldly possessions and devote his fortune and life to helping the poor. After a subsequent life of piety, he became a very respected and successful Bishop. He died in A.D. 727 and his remains were translated to Amdain (now Saint- Hubert, Belgium).
St. Hubert was widely venerated during the Middle Ages and thereafter. His grave has been a pilgrimage site for nearly 1300 years. His symbol — the stag’s head and golden cross — is a familiar sight all over Europe.
In A.D. 1695, Austro-Hungarian Count Franz Anton Sporck instituted the Order of St. Hubertus to honor St. Hubert’s memory and to promote responsible hunting and wildlife conservation. This order continues to this day as the International Order of St. Hubertus. The motto of the Order is “Deum Diligite Animalia Diligetes,” or “Honor God by Honoring His Creatures.”
The date of November 3rd is the Feast Day of St. Hubertus. It is celebrated each year at the Basilica where he is buried as well as throughout the hunting world in Europe. At the Basilica the hunting horns are blown and hunters on horses with their barking dogs enter into the church for a blessing. The members of IOSH celebrate St. Hubert’s Feast Day with dinners and/or shooting activities.
The convulsions of World Wars I & II led to the dissolution of the Order. After the Second World War, however, the Order was revived by U.S. Ambassador to Austria and American High Commissioner Llewellyn Thompson, along with Commanding General Mark W. Clark, U.K. Ambassador Sir Harold Caccia, the British High Commissioner, Dr. Albert Messany of Austria and Austrian Chancellor Leopold Figl.
The current Grand Master is His Imperial and Royal Highness, Istvan Franz von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria and Royal Prince of Hungary.
Consistent with the creed of the Order, the Grand Master invites outstanding sportsmen who share a passion for hunting, fishing, and conservation, to become Knights of the Order and thereafter to promote sportsmanlike hunting, wildlife conservation, protection of the environment and wildlife habitat, traditional hunting customs and ceremonies, and good fellowship among sportsmen.
The Order in America
- 1968
- George Wood was appointed Grand Prior and founded the American Chapter in 1968. The first Investiture of American Knights took place at the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. The ceremony was presided over by then Grand Master Messany. View ceremony program here.
- 1975
- Grand Master Messany retired and George Wood was elected Grand Master. OB Wood was followed by Karl Weber in 1979.
- 1985
- Grand Master Weber asked Archduke Andreas Salvatore von Habsburg-Lothringen to act as Protector of the Order.
- 1991
- On January 8, Grand Master Weber asked Archduke Andreas to take the office of Grand Master. Archduke Andreas did so and His Majesty Juan Carlos, King of Spain, assumed the position of Protector of the Order.
- 2013
- In March of 2013 HIH Archduke Istvan von Habsburg-Lothringen became the fifth Grand Master of the Order since the Restitution. Archduke Andreas assumed the office of Grand Master Emeritus and King Juan Carlos continues to offer the order his protection.
ne of the purposes of IOSH is to contribute to wildlife and habitat conservation. This is a commitment made by Ordensbrothers and accomplished at an individual level. One of the ways this is done is by personal monetary donations, as well as in-kind contributions (including major gifts of lands) to organizations which have a significant conservation purpose. In addition, Ordensbrothers have directly contributed to wildlife and habitat conservation by conducting, at their personal expense, land and habitat restoration projects on various types of habitat, as well as by the granting of permanent, irrevocable conservation easements on their own lands which protect these lands and habitat and will restrict them in perpetuity from commercial or other development.
In 2015, the IOSH conducted an extensive conservation inventory among its Ordensbrothers to determine the amount of monetary and in-kind donations they have made to conservation organizations and organizations created to promote and preserve hunting traditions, and the extent of acreage upon which they have conducted restoration and conservation measures in the last five years. The results showed that, during this period, the amount of the in-kind land donations and direct monetary contributions made by Ordensbrothers to conservation organizations exceeds $100,000,000 USD (€89,000,000) and the number of acres of land and habitat restored or permanently restricted by conservation easement from future development exceeds 200,000 acres (over 81,000 hectares).
These substantial gifts and conservation investments are voluntarily conferred by Ordensbrothers worldwide on an individual basis and not as part of any organized IOSH program. This is a continuation of the ancient tradition of respect for wildlife and protection and preservation of its habitat in the time-honored, centuries-old spirit of St. Hubertus.
Community Service
One of the core missions and purposes of the Ordensbrothers of IOSH is to endeavor to ensure that the economic benefits derived from sports hunting and fishing support the regions where these activities are carried out. And also to encourage wildlife conservation and help protect endangered species from extinction.
Ordensbrothers worldwide make their own individual contributions to these ends, often at considerable personal expense in time, expertise, and money. And sometimes at great personal risk. This is one such story.
Richard Spencer is an Ordensbrother of the IOSH, a member of the Mountains & Plains Priory of the USA Chapter. He is an experienced hunter, personally interested in the preservation of this great heritage and of wildlife and its habitat. He lamented and disdained the merciless slaughter of elephants by the hundreds of thousands by poachers over the years in Kenya, a country which banned hunting and cancelled concessions protecting wildlife and habitat, but which seems powerless to stop the slaughter. Richard, having been a US military aviator, decided to do something about it, and to offer his expertise, time and money, risking his own life in the process.
He volunteered to help train Kenyan game rangers as aviators and enforcers against the powerful and deadly poaching elements. The skills required to pilot aircraft in this near-war environment are specialized and unique and they require hands-on work by experienced aviators and regular recurrent training in tactics and techniques in a danger zone. Great cunning and bravery is required. Richard had those skills and he was willing to demonstrate and teach them.
He traveled to Africa and joined a small band of dedicated men and women determined to stem the tide of slaughter and destruction. They trained, they flew patrols and missions, and they developed, demonstrated and taught special techniques, sometimes under live fire from the poachers. Richard also bought and supplied equipment to the rangers, including satellite beacons capable of reporting position and summoning backup and help.
Richard made a personal effort to effect a significant positive change in one corner of the world. This is emblematic of the core beliefs of IOSH and its Ordensbrothers, in the true spirit of St. Hubertus, a spirit begun in the 8th century AD, and perpetuated to this day by the members of IOSH.
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