[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 125 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SALUTE TO JOHN M. LANGSTON BAR ASSOCIATION AFRICAN AMERICAN ANNUAL HALL 
                            OF FAME HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIAN C. DIXON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 1999

  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to four prominent 
and distinguished members of the legal community in Los Angeles: 
Attorney Mary Burrell Fulton; United States District Court Chief Judge 
Terry J. Hatter; Attorney Elbert T. Hudson; and Los Angeles Superior 
Court Judge Sherrill Luke. On October 16, 1999, these four exceptional 
individuals will be inducted into the John M. Langston Bar Association 
Ninth Annual Hall of Fame. I cannot think of four people more deserving 
of this distinct honor and am pleased to have this opportunity to 
publicly recognize their extraordinary contributions to the legal 
profession.
  Attorney Mary Burrell Fulton received her undergraduate degree in 
government from Los Angeles State College where she was a member of the 
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In 1961 she became the first Black woman to 
graduate from the UCLA law school. She was admitted to the California 
State Bar on January 9, 1962, and began her career as an associate in 
the offices of legendary Los Angeles attorney Crispus A. Wright. In 
1965 she joined the law firm of Lloyd, Bradley, Burrell & Nelson, whose 
client list included renowned entertainer Dr. William (Bill) Cosby. She 
established a solo practice in 1981 and in 1991 teamed with retired Los 
Angeles Superior Court Judge Henry P. Nelson to found the firm of 
Nelson & Fulton. Mary has served as a mentor to many young, aspiring 
attorneys and has contributed much to the Los Angeles community through 
her participation in numerous career day programs.
  Judge Terry Hatter was appointed to the United States District Court 
for the Central District of California in 1979. On March 1, 1998, he 
was named Chief Judge, presiding over the court which covers the 
largest federal district in the nation, serving some 17 million people. 
Judge Hatter received his undergraduate degree in government from 
Wesleyan University in Connecticut and his law degree from the 
University of Chicago. His exemplary legal career spans more than 
thirty years, and includes service as an attorney, public defender, 
Assistant United States Attorney, Executive Assistant to Mayor Tom 
Bradley, and Professor of Law at the University of Southern California 
Law Center and Loyola University School of Law. Judge Hatter has 
presided over some of the most controversial and difficult cases to 
come before the Central District. Widely respected by attorneys and 
judges alike, he has served the court with great distinction for twenty 
years. He is a Trustee of Wesleyan University, and member of the 
Visiting Committee for the University of Chicago Law School.
  Broadway Federal Bank Chairman Elbert T. Hudson has had a 
distinguished career of service to our community and nation, beginning 
with his service during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps as one 
of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. He received his undergraduate degree 
from UCLA and his law degree from Loyola University School of Law. 
Prior to joining Broadway Federal, founded by his father, Dr. H. Claude 
Hudson, Elbert practiced law for 20 years. In 1972 he became the 
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Broadway Federal 
Savings and Loan Association. Although he stepped down as CEO in 1992 
and resumed the practice of law, he remains chairman of he bank's Board 
of Directors. He is a member of the Board of Police Commissioners; the 
Board of Directors of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company; 
and President and Board Member of the NAACP ``New Careers'' JEPTA 
Training Center. He is a past president of the Los Angeles Branch of 
the NAACP, as well as the American League of Financial Institutions. He 
has served on numerous other boards, including the Board of Directors 
of Drew University Medical School.
  Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sherrill D. Luke was named to the 
Superior Court bench after spending nearly a decade hearing cases 
before the Los Angeles Municipal Court. He received his undergraduate 
degree from UCLA; his master of arts degree from the University of 
California, Berkeley; and his doctor of jurisprudence from Golden Gate 
University. His impressive career includes service as an attorney; 
Cabinet Secretary to former California Governor Pat Brown; Adjunct 
Professor of Law at Loyola University Law School; and President of the 
Los Angeles City Planning Commission. He is a member of several 
professional and civic organizations, including the California Judges 
Association, Langston Bar Association, and the California Association 
of Black Lawyers. He remains deeply involved with his alma mater, UCLA, 
where he is a member and the past president of the UCLA Alumni 
Association; member and cochair of the Advisory Board of the UCLA 
Performing Arts Program, and the Stephens House of Scholarships 
Association.
  Mr. Speaker, these four individuals have made enormous contributions 
to the system of jurisprudence, and it is especially fitting that they 
are being recognized by their peers for their exemplary service. As 
they are inducted into the John M. Langston Bar Association's Hall of 
Fame, I am pleased to salute Mary, Terry, Elbert, and Sherrill for the 
contributions they have made which continue to enrich the judiciary and 
the Los Angeles community. Well done, my friends!

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