[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1305-E1306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR OF THE LATE JUSTICE STANLEY MOSK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2001

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay my final respects to 
California Supreme Court Justice Stanley Mosk. It is with great sadness 
and deep respect that I share with my colleagues the following words on 
the life of Justice Stanley Mosk.
  Justice Mosk was born in San Antonio, Texas, graduated from the 
University of Chicago Law School, and in 1933 he moved to California. 
Justice Mosk served for his country in WWII before returning to his 
family and career as a judge of the Superior Court in Los

[[Page E1306]]

Angeles. Justice Mosk was elected Attorney General in 1958 with an 
overwhelming million vote majority--the largest of any election that 
year. During his six years as the Chief Law Officer of the State of 
California he argued before the United States Supreme Court in the 
Arizona v. California water case and other landmark cases before the 
California Supreme Court. In 1961 Justice Mosk was credited with 
persuading the Professional Golf Association to admit African American 
golfers. In 1964 Justice Mosk was appointed to the California Supreme 
Court by Governor Pat Brown.
  Justice Mosk was an astute, independent thinker whose tenure as a 
California Supreme Court Justice was both brilliant and controversial. 
As Mosk's former colleague California Chief Justice Ronald George 
stated correctly, ``Stanley Mosk was giant in the law``. He revealed 
that status by writing nearly 1,500 opinions while serving for 37 
years, the longest tenure of any California Supreme Court Justice. 
Stanley Mosk continued his tireless efforts until his last day. Each 
year in the last decade, Justice Mosk authored more opinions than any 
other Supreme Court Justice. Although widely considered a liberal, he 
chose not to abide to any limitations on his opinions. On several 
occasions, Justice Mosk's decisions stunned the legal and political 
community.
  As Justice, Mosk traveled extensively. He observed the South-West 
Africa case at the World Court, on behalf of the State Department. He 
lectured throughout Africa thereafter. Justice Mosk traveled to the 
Netherlands in 1970 to participate in summer sessions of The Hague 
Academy of International Law at the Peace Palace. Justice Mosk lectured 
at Universities throughout the United States as well.
  Justice Mosk was valued and respected by his colleagues. He will be 
remembered as a passionate proponent of the will of the law. Justice 
Mosk was one of the most influential figures in shaping California law 
and his death brings a void to the bench that will not easily be 
filled. Justice Mosk was confirmed for a new twelve-year term in 
November of 1998. Sadly, he was not able to fulfill the wishes of the 
California people. The death of Justice Stanley Mosk is a tremendous 
loss to the California Supreme Court, to California, and to America's 
judicial system. My thoughts and prayers are with Justice Mosk's wife 
Kaygey, and his son Richard. We will all miss him greatly.

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