US Senator Jack Reed described the judge as “a legal legend” and “a man of great wisdom, integrity, modesty, wit, and high ethical standards.”

Bruce M. Selya, the first person of Jewish faith to ascend the federal bench in Rhode Island, has died at 90. Known for his expansive vocabulary and distinctive writing style, Selya was a revered figure around the state and in the legal community.

The judge, a Providence native who was elevated to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, died at the age of 90.