Congressman Alcee Hastings died, his office said on Tuesday, after the former congressman was diagnosed two years ago with pancreatic cancer.
The 84-year-old Democrat has represented Florida’s 20th congressional district – which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties – since he was elected in 1992.
Mr. Hastings was a civil rights lawyer before becoming the first black federal judge in Florida, when President Jimmy Carter appointed him to office in 1979. He was later charged by the Chamber in 17 articles, including bribery, perjury and forgery of documents. The Senate condemned him for eight articles and removed him from the federal bench. He was acquitted in a related criminal trial.
He was subsequently elected to Congress, where he was vice president of the House Rules Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budgetary Process. He was also chairman of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Hastings “lived a life of triumph over adversity and its brilliance and compassion were felt among its constituents, colleagues, the nation and the world,” said his family.