[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A FRIEND OF MORE THAN THE COURT

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 19, 1995

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, our judicial system is critically dependent 
upon the people who toil on behalf of the public interest. This is 
certainly true in our criminal justice system, and is equally true in 
our civil justice system, particularly in our family courts. Nothing 
can be more traumatic than the intervention of the courts in our day-
to-day activities, but in some matters there is no choice but the 
court's involvement. It is at times like these that we should be 
particularly thankful that caring and skilled people, like Leonard 
Portnoy, have spent their careers on behalf of those who must deal with 
our court system.
  After 20 years of serving as friend of the court, Leonard Portnoy of 
Bay City, MI, is retiring next week. A thoughtful gentleman who never 
spared in his generous consideration of the difficulties faced by 
people dealing with the court, he is known by many as a patient, 
helpful, and dedicated individual who has the delicate task of dealing 
with people at a very tense time in their lives. He is in charge of 
making recommendations to the court about child custody, visitation 
rights, and support payments. He also has to operate as a mediator 
regarding the safeguarding of these rights. And he also must serve as 
the enforcer who must deal with any violation of the court's orders.
  Leonard Portnoy has been in our community since 1969 in response to 
an ad for a staff attorney position at the Bay-Midland Legal Aid 
Society. He then became assistant Bay County prosecutor for Eugene 
Penzien, who himself is retiring as a Bay County circuit court judge 
next month. He became acting friend of the court in 1974, and then was 
officially appointed by Governor Milliken in 1975 following the death 
of Maxine Clarey, the prior friend of the court.
  Over the years, friend of the Court Portnoy had to deal with a never-
ending and demanding caseload. He had to deal with the likely stresses 
associated with having to sort out difficult situations at often less 
than friendly and objective times. He has had to administer an office 
that annually must oversee millions of dollars in support payments for 
the people under the court's jurisdiction.
  Even in this important and often trying profession, Leonard Portnoy 
is known for having maintained his sense of humor, and for being 
perhaps the best target for April Fool's Day jokes in the friend of the 
court system. That spirit, along with the balance of convictions, has 
made him among the best of friends of the court that I have ever 
encountered.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in 
wishing Leonard and his wife Irene the very best as he enters 
retirement. His career has been of great value to thousands of people. 
He leaves big shoes to fill.

                          ____________________