[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING STUART VANMEVEREN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2005

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one the greatest 
men of jurisprudence in Colorado, Stuart ``Stu'' VanMeveren, who is 
stepping down from 32 years as District Attorney for the State's Eight 
Judicial District.
  I have known Stu for many years. Since we have both been very active 
in the Republican Party, we have come to know each other quite well. I 
know we think alike on the issues of our time. We reside in neighboring 
communities located to the north of Denver. Stu's residence in Fort 
Collins is within my congressional district.
  Stu is one of the most capable, effective, popular, and respected 
elected district attorneys in our State and the Nation. He was first 
elected district attorney in the Eight Judicial District of Colorado in 
1972. Since then he has been re-elected to seven consecutive 4-year 
terms of office. His eighth term of office concludes on January 11, 
2005, because an amendment to the Colorado Constitution has imposed 
term limits on elected state and local officials.
  Stu's peers have recognized his abilities and effectiveness by 
electing him to local, State, and national office. His local bar 
association of more than 350 attorneys has elected Stu as their 
president. His fellow elected district attorneys have twice elected him 
President of the Colorado District Attorneys Council.
  In 1999 Stu was clearly recognized nationally when he was elected 
President of the National District Attorneys Association. The National 
District Attorneys Association is the voice of America's prosecutors 
and has a membership of more than 8,000 attorneys. Stu has served on 
the board of directors of that organization, a group of the leading 
prosecutors from each state in our nation, since 1977. Stu has been 
elected or appointed to many other local, State, and national 
committees and organizations.
  Stu is a very innovative prosecutor. Shortly after he was first 
elected district attorney in 1972, he formed one of the first full time 
victim/witness units contained within a prosecutors office. He was also 
instrumental in forming a very effective youth mentoring program, 
Larimer County Partners, 25 years ago.
  More recently, in 1999, he took the initiative in creating the first 
Juvenile Drug Court in Colorado and one of the first in the Nation. A 
successful adult Drug Court followed this and, with his help, Colorado 
State University has the only Campus Drug Court in the country. Stu has 
the innate ability to make effective modifications, realign priorities, 
and adjust limited resources as the issues involving his office and the 
criminal justice system change.
  Representative Bob Schaffer, my predecessor here in Congress, 
recently remarked, ``As holder of an elected post, Stu's dedication to 
the Republican principles of public safety and individual liberty have 
been effectively communicated and represented in a way that has 
consistently earned him overwhelming bipartisan support each time his 
name has appeared on a ballot and he is a tireless public servant whose 
commitment to justice is exemplary.''
  Stu is a man of high character and integrity. He is a modest man with 
a very high degree of common sense. He is highly respected throughout 
his community and the state of Colorado.
  It is for these reasons and many more Stu deserves the very highest 
praise and deep appreciation not only from me and the residents of 
Colorado, but also from this esteemed body.

                          ____________________