[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF JUDGE WILMONT SWEENEY

                                 ______


                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 1996

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Wilmont 
Sweeney who is retiring as presiding judge of the Juvenile Division of 
the Alameda County Superior Court on June 1, 1996. I would like to take 
this opportunity to commend Judge Sweeney for his years of dedication 
and commitment to the welfare of the children of Alameda County, in 
California's 13th Congressional District.
  Judge Sweeney is a long-time resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. 
He received his undergraduate degree in 1950 from the University of 
California at Berkeley and his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in 
San Francisco. After being admitted to the California Bar in 1955, he 
began his legal career in private practice with the firm Wilson, 
Metoyer, Sweeney & Broussard.
  In 1974, Judge Sweeney was appointed to the Berkeley-Albany Municipal 
Court Bench by Governor Reagan and was elected in 1978. In 1979, Judge 
Sweeney was elected to the Superior Court Bench of Alameda County by 
Governor Brown, Jr. He was reelected to the Superior Court in 1986 and 
1992. Judge Sweeney became presiding judge of the Juvenile Division of 
the Alameda County Superior Court in 1981.
  As presiding judge, Judge Sweeney has been an inspiration to others 
in the field of juvenile law. He was a founding member of the Juvenile 
Court Judges of California. In 1992, he was the first recipient of this 
organization's Juvenile Judge of the Year Award. During Judge Sweeney's 
tenure, the Alameda County Juvenile Court developed a reputation second 
to none for its compassion and commitment to justice for children, 
their families, and the community.
  Judge Sweeney has always been an active member of the community. From 
1961 to 1974, he served as a member of the Berkeley City Council and 
from 1967 to 1974, he was the vice mayor of the city of Berkeley. He 
has also served on a number of committees including the Judicial 
Council Advisory Committee on Juvenile Court Law, the Juvenile Court 
Judges of California Executive Committee, the Child Abuse Policy Board 
of Alameda County, and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Strategic 
Planning Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask that you and my colleagues join me 
in recognizing Judge Wilmont Sweeney for his years of dedication to the 
children of Alameda County and to wish him well in all of his future 
endeavors. He will be missed.

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