[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 127 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF CALIFORNIA STATE SUPERIOR COURT COMMISSIONER 
                FOR ALAMEDA COUNTY, MICHAEL L. KANNINEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael L. Kanninen on 
his retirement July 16, 2002, after 18 years as Court Commissioner of 
the Superior Court of California, Alameda County.
  Prior to his appointment to the Superior Court, Supervisor Kanninen 
served as Commissioner of the Alameda County Municipal Court. When the 
two courts were unified in 1998, he was appointed to his current 
position. Presiding over criminal matters and civil cases, Commissioner 
Kanninen has handled arraignments, sentencings, traffic, jury trials, 
pretrials, and motions.
  After graduating from Hastings College of Law in San Francisco in 
1971 and being admitted to the state bar in 1972, Commissioner Kanninen 
opened a small private practice, handling a wide array of cases. In 
1982 he entered the Navy Reserves Judge Advocate General Corps, 
reaching the rank of Captain.
  This position was not Commissioner Kanninen's first experience with 
the Navy. After graduating from the University of Chicago with a B.A. 
in Political Science in 1961, Kanninen—who intended to join the 
foreign service—was recruited into the Navy. He served until 
1966, earning a Vietnam Defense Ribbon with three stars and the Armed 
Forces Reserve Medal.
  In 1996, Commissioner Kanninen was awarded the prestigious 
Meritorious Service Medal by President Bill Clinton for outstanding 
service from October 1990 through September 1995 in the Judge Advocate 
General's Corps. He is a member of the California Court Commissioners 
Association, California Judges Association, and the American Judges 
Association.
  An active member of the community, Commissioner Kanninen sings with 
the Ohlone Community College Choir, and has served as president of the 
Second Chance Community Crisis Center, as District Chairman of the Boy 
Scouts of America, and as President of the Newark Chamber of Commerce.
  I am honored to join the colleagues of Michael L. Kanninen in 
commending him for his many years of dedicated and exemplary service to 
his country, state, and community. His commitment to justice is an 
inspiration for all.

                          ____________________