[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF JUDGE J. AUGUSTUS ACCURSO

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                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 2010

  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest respect and 
admiration that I rise today to honor the late Judge J. Augustus 
``Augie'' Accurso. Augie was not only an engaged member of our 
community in Stanislaus County, California, but he was a beloved father 
and grandfather. He was a very special and well respected man to many 
people, known for his gift of conversation, sense of humor and positive 
approach to life. At the age of 79, Augie Accurso passed away on 
Sunday, February 7, 2010.
  The Queens Village, N.Y., native had several other jobs before 
settling into law. He went to barber school and worked as a pharmacist, 
which his colleagues said ensured he would carefully scrutinize 
chemical evidence. Judge Accurso started out in the Stanislaus County 
district attorney's office in 1969, then after a little more than a 
year went into private practice. He was then selected by the county 
Board of Supervisors to become a Justice Court judge in Turlock. In 
1977, the Board of Supervisors abolished the Justice Court, the board 
appointed him to the Municipal Court bench.
  Judge Accurso served on the bench for two decades, and during his 20-
year career as a judge, he served at every judicial level in the state 
shy of the Supreme Court. He served on the Justice Court, the Municipal 
Court, the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal. During his tenure, 
he also served as dean of the Judges College, an ongoing curriculum to 
help judges keep abreast of judicial procedures and rules.
  Judge Accurso was also an active alumnus of the Theta Chi Fraternity. 
Judge Accurso pledged, and was initiated, Theta Chi while attending San 
Jose State. This was a relationship that he held proudly throughout his 
life as he encouraged and nurtured the chapter that formed at CSU 
Stanislaus in the late 70s. Judge Accurso was very influential in the 
lives of the members of the Eta Tau Chapter of Theta Chi at California 
State University Stanislaus, and was like a father to many of them.
  Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor and privilege to join my 
community in honoring the memory of Augie Accurso. He will be greatly 
missed by all.

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