[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MICHELLE MOORE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 30, 2011

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize Dallas County public defender Michelle Moore, who has worked 
on and off the clock to free the innocent from prison and helped them 
to adjust to life on the outside once they're released. I wish to 
congratulate Ms. Moore for her service to my community as she is 
leaving her position to open the first public defender's office in 
Burnet County.
  Ms. Moore has helped free 11 men from prison, appeared on a 
television documentary called Dallas DNA and helped change state laws 
to compensate exonerees and prevent wrongful convictions. As an 
attorney, she requests DNA testing and has worked with the district 
attorney's office to investigate cases. She has also represented 
inmates whose guilt was confirmed by DNA testing.
  Moore works with the Innocence Project of Texas, the Wesleyan 
Innocence Project and the University of Texas at Arlington Innocence 
Network and the Center for Actual Innocence. Michelle Moore has 
practiced law for 17 years and is licensed to practice in Texas and 
Arkansas. She has served as an assistant Dallas County public defender 
for the past 13 years, where she currently works as the DNA attorney 
for the office. Moore taught for six years in the Criminal Clinic at 
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ``Yes if you want to say that 
I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I 
was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things 
will not matter. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to 
leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind.'' Mr. 
Speaker, I would like to recognize Michelle Moore for her determination 
and hard work to these causes. Our country is a better one because of 
Michelle Moore.

                          ____________________