Judge John W. "Jack" Bissell, the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, retired from the bench today. I've known Judge Bissell since about 1990 when I joined the Metropolitan New York - New Jersey Chapter of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association. He was a member of that organization at the time and helped me resolve a dispute with a coach that had the potential to disrupt my officiating career.

The Star-Ledger published a long article about Judge Bissell's 27 years as a state and federal judge. All of my friends from hockey officiating got a kick out of reading it. The part I liked best is this:

Today, with the rap of a gavel given to him when he first became a judge, Bissell will conclude his duties on the bench by swearing in a new group of citizens -- a send-off he selected because it is a time in a federal courthouse where everyone is happy.

I didn't want to miss this opportunity to wish Judge Bissell well as he retires. He's done a lot for the people of New Jersey and the United States.