[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12348-S12349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JUDGE JAN SMITH

 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding Nevadan, my friend and former colleague, Judge Jan Smith. 
At the age of seventy-one, after years of service as Justice of the 
Peace for the Jean-Good Springs community, Judge Smith will retire from 
the bench next year. I want to take this opportunity pay tribute to Jan 
for her efforts to improve the lives of so many Americans, because her 
accomplishments have helped us all.
  I have been fortunate enough to be a first hand witness to some of 
Jan's incredible achievements. I have watched her rise from legal aide 
and working mother in the early nineteen sixties to become one of 
Nevada's most influential judicial officers.
  After toiling away as a legal secretary for a District Attorney and a 
county judge, Jan became deeply involved with a variety of grass roots 
causes. She was one of the first women in the state to be an advocate 
on behalf of the environment. In the city of Henderson, she canvassed 
neighborhoods and city hall to prevent industry from inflicting 
permanent damage to the environment. As a mother of six, she was 
insightful enough to take action so that her children could grow up 
with an ample supply of clean air and water.
  Judge Smith was also a champion for the underprivileged. She worked 
tirelessly to create opportunities for the poor and disadvantage in 
Nevada. Like many of her contemporaries, she

[[Page S12349]]

marched on behalf of women and children who needed a ``hand-up'', 
rather than a donation or handout.
  When I served as Nevada's Lt. Governor, I began working closely with 
Jan when she was chosen to run the Southern Nevada office of then 
Governor Mike O'Callahan. Savvy and determined, she made an impression 
on everyone she worked with throughout those six years. Much of her 
success on the job came from her staunch work ethic and strong ties to 
both her family and the community.
  The people of Nevada were truly fortunate to have Judge Smith come 
out of semi retirement to accept an appointment as a Justice of the 
Peace for the Jean-Good Springs district. She single-handedly 
reorganized the court so that it eventually became a model of fairness 
and efficiency. She has subsequently been reelected with overwhelming 
community support.
  Judge Smith is one of the unsung heroes of the American justice 
system. Like many of our nation's Justice of the Peace Officers, she 
does not typically preside over big dollar, high drama cases. However, 
those like Judge Smith are the representatives of our legal system most 
likely to come in contact with everyday Americans. Professionals like 
Jan do more to preside over basic public safety issues because they 
handle the difficult events that are all too common in communities 
across the country--drunk driving and domestic violence. Essentially, 
Jan's career has required her or exercise judgement and make tough 
decisions that have lasting impact.
  Judge Jan Smith truly believes in the law, as a fellow officer of the 
court and United States Senator, I have relied upon on Judge Smith's 
trademark intelligence and honesty, as well as her ability to astutely 
assess the character and behavior of the many Nevadans who visit her 
court.
  Much of my admiration for Judge Smith stems from her enduring 
commitment to people of the Silver State. Her values are reflected not 
only in the way she lives her life, but in the many organizations she 
has served over the past thirty years. Judge Smith's lifetime of 
achievement is truly an inspiration, and she serves as an incredible 
role model for judicial prudence, legal acumen, and personal 
integrity.

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