[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE DION G. MORROW

                                 ______


                          HON. JULIAN C. DIXON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 1995

  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great jurist 
and an even greater friend, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dion G. 
Morrow. On October 23, 1995, Judge Morrow will officially step down 
from the bench capping a stellar judicial career spanning two decades. 
On October 19, 1995, at the Luminarias Restaurant, I will join in a 
retirement salute to Judge Morrow in recognition of his many 
distinguished years of service to Los Angeles' legal community. At this 
time however, please allow me to share this retrospective of his 
celebrated career with my distinguished colleagues.
  A lifelong resident of Los Angeles, Judge Morrow was born on July 9, 
1932, He graduated from Polytechnic High School and received his 
undergraduate degree from George Pepperdine University, where he 
received several awards for his gifted oratorical and debate skills. In 
1957, he received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law, 
and was admitted to the California bar.
  Judge Morrow began his legal career in 1957 as an attorney in private 
practice in the south central neighborhoods of Los Angeles. He 
practiced law for 16 years before moving to the Los Angeles City 
Attorney's Office in October 1973. From 1973 to 1975, he served as 
senior special counsel and assistant city attorney.
  In October 1975, Judge Morrow was appointed to the Compton Judicial 
District by then-Governor Jerry Brown. Two years later, Governor Brown 
elevated him to the Los Angeles Superior Court. His early years on the 
bench were spent in the criminal court before becoming one of the first 
direct calendar fast track judges in the central district in October 
1987. For the past 8 years, he has sat in the central district civil 
court.
  Throughout his legal career, Judge Morrow has served as a mentor and 
educator to other aspiring attorneys. In addition to his busy judicial 
responsibilities, he has participated in numerous seminars and lectures 
for the California Judges Association, California Judicial Education 
and Research, the Rutter Group, and Continuing Education of the Bar. He 
has also served as an instructor at the National Judicial College in 
Reno, NV, and is currently an assistant professor at California State 
University, Los Angeles, where he teaches in the School of Criminal 
Justice.
  Judge Morrow is also an active member of the John M. Langston Bar 
Association. During his long affiliation with this organization, he has 
served alternately as president, secretary, and as the first delegate 
from the association to the conference of delegates of the State bar.
  For several years, he served on the California State bar disciplinary 
committee. In 1971 he served on the state bar resolutions committee, 
and in 1973 on the credentials committee.
  Through his distinguished legal profession, Judge Morrow has 
endeavored to set examples of excellence both in the courtroom and 
around his community. He has worked steadfastly and selflessly behind 
the scenes nurturing, teaching, and cajoling those with whom he would 
come in contact to pursue the same standards of excellence.
  I have been privileged to have him as my friend for over 30 years; it 
is a friendship that I cherished. Thus, it is a special honor for me to 
have this opportunity to salute the outstanding career of such an 
outstanding human being.
  It is difficult to find the right words to properly convey the 
enormous contributions made by this outstanding jurist and 
humanitarian. Perhaps words expressed by the renowned Supreme Court 
Justice Louis D. Brandeis best capture the essence of Judge Morrow's 
contributions to the legal profession. Justice Brandeis noted that:

       There is in most Americans some spark of idealism, which 
     can be fanned into a flame. It takes sometimes a divining rod 
     to find what it is; but when found, and that means often, 
     when disclosed to the owners, the results are often most 
     extraordinary.

  Dion, because of your extraordinary achievements and contributions to 
Los Angeles, we are all better prepared to confront the challenges of 
the future. Although you have decided to pursue other challenges, 
including seeking that perfect hole in one, your contributions to Los 
Angeles' citizens and its judicial system will endure. As you set 
course in a new direction, you may do so secure in the knowledge that 
you have rendered esteemed, noble, and honorable service to your 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to salute my good friend Judge Dion G. 
Morrow. Please join me, his lovely wife Glynis Ann Morrow, and their 
children and grandchildren, in extending our heartfelt appreciation and 
best wishes for a wonderful future filled with good health, happiness, 
and much prosperity.

                          ____________________