[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING JUDGE JOSEPH LODGE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2002

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary citizen of California's central coast, Judge Joseph 
Lodge. As both a judge and a teacher at the University of California, 
Santa Barbara, there is no question as to how much Judge Lodge has 
given to the Santa Barbara community and I am very pleased to have the 
opportunity to honor him.
  In 1955, after graduating from the University of Michigan School of 
Law, Joe Lodge began his legal career by working as a clerk for the 
chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit. In 1956 Joe 
moved to Santa Barbara, which he has called home ever since. He became 
the first full-time attorney in the Santa Barbara suburb, Goleta, and 
in 1958, at the young age of 26, he made the decision to run for a 
part-time judgeship in a local court. In 1965, after the South Coast 
courts merged, Judge Lodge became a full-time judge in the municipal 
court, although he still found time to continue teaching at UCSB. In 
1998, Judge Lodge was moved to the Superior Court, where he sits now.
  Judge Lodge holds the distinction of being the longest sitting trial 
judge in the State of California. Not only has he dedicated the last 44 
years to presiding on the bench, but he has also spent the last 42 
years teaching an extremely popular criminal justice course at UCSB. 
Since Judge Lodge has vowed never to retire, the residents of the 
central coast decided to throw him an ``In-Lieu-of-Retirement Party'' 
on the evening of Thursday, September 26.
  The Santa Barbara community has benefited greatly from the many, many 
years of service Judge Lodge has dedicated. His wisdom and fairness has 
played a part in so many people's lives and it is truly fitting that we 
have the opportunity to honor him today.

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