[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO JUDGE JUDITH M. ASHMANN

                                 ______


                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                       HON. ANTHONY C. BEILENSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 1995
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, we are honored to pay tribute to Judge 
Judith M. Ashmann, supervising judge of Los Angeles Superior Court's 
North Valley district, who has been named Judge of the Year by the San 
Fernando Valley Bar Association. Judge Ashmann, a friend for many 
years, has a distinguished legal career, including her tenure on the 
superior court bench, nearly 6 years spent as a municipal court judge 
in Van Nuys and a decade working in the city, State and Federal 
attorney offices.
  Last year, in the aftermath of the devastating Northridge Earthquake, 
Judge Ashmann had her finest hour. The San Fernando courthouse suffered 
severe damage, rendering it uninhabitable. Without quick action by 
Judge Ashmann, the result could have been chaos.
  But she kept her cool under fire, supervising the orderly transfer of 
judicial duties to other locations, including trailers outside the Van 
Nuys courthouse. At the same time, Judge Ashmann embarked on an 
ambitious, time-consuming but absolutely essential project to eliminate 
the backlog of civil cases created by the earthquake, the most 
expensive natural disaster in American history.
  During a 2-week period, teams of volunteer attorneys and judges 
assembled by Judge Ashmann disposed of more than 1,000 cases in San 
Fernando Valley courts. Along with community leaders, Judge Ashmann has 
been responsible for restoring a sense of normalcy to the earthquake 
zone.
  Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us today in saluting Judge 
Judith Ashmann, who combines a sound legal mind with exceptional 
qualities of leadership. She is an inspiration to all of us.


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