 He had held his seat since December 24, 1968.On February 13, 2009, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan cited William M. Welch II, Brenda K. Morris, Patty Merkamp Stemler (Chief of the Justice Department Criminal Appeals Section), and another Justice Department attorney for contempt of court.Judge Sullivan amended the contempt citation on February 14, 2009 to remove the fourth attorney.