[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 173 (Monday, December 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1809-E1810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING VOLUNTEERS FROM OREGON VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS

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                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 9, 2013

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague Rep. Kurt Schrader 
and myself, I rise today to convey our deepest appreciation to the team 
members of both the Klamath County and the Marion County Veterans 
Treatment Courts on visiting the nation's capital this week. These 
Oregonians are here to

[[Page E1810]]

attend the inaugural ``Vet Con,'' or Veterans Treatment Court 
Conference, the first ever gathering of veterans court team members 
from across the nation. The conference is being put on by Justice for 
Vets, a professional service division of the National Association of 
Drug Court Professionals, with the goal of providing in-depth training 
to the nearly 200 vet courts across the nation.
  Key to the operation of a veterans treatment court is the 
collaborative partnership of the judicial system, the U.S. Department 
of Veterans Affairs, the county Veterans Service Office, veterans 
service organizations, community agencies and volunteers. These 
community members partner in a treatment team which convenes before 
each court session to review cases and develop problem solving 
recommendations. This coordinated response addresses an array of issues 
from community protection and restitution to offender rehabilitation. 
Weekly court appearances afford close judicial supervision of the 
veteran defendant's progress. The court hands out encouragement and 
sanctions as warranted.
  Mr. Speaker, it may seem a bit lengthy, but we think it is important 
that we recognize each of the team members in order to honor the hard 
work of holding veterans accountable while guiding their progress in a 
treatment court setting.
  We are very proud of the work done for veterans in the Marion County 
Circuit Court. Back in 2010, the Honorable Joseph V. Ochoa perceived 
that many of the veterans in the criminal justice system had a certain 
nexus between their crime and their military service. Judge Ochoa 
sought to create a protocol to handle these veteran criminal defendants 
with the goal of obtaining treatment services for these veterans 
through the Veterans Administration.
  Judge Joseph Ochoa decided to retire after 16 years on the Marion 
County Circuit Court and in the later months of 2011 handed over the 
dream of building a veterans' treatment court to the Honorable Vance D. 
Day. Judge Ochoa has remained active in the building the Marion County 
Veterans Treatment Court and has set aside his title as a judge and 
committed to serve as one of the defense attorneys in the treatment 
court. Joe Ochoa is a member of the team participating in the in-depth 
training this week at the Vet Con.
  I have known Judge Vance Day since my first year in the Oregon House 
of Representatives. Vance and I have worked on numerous projects 
together for the betterment of Oregonians over the years. Judge Day is 
a collaborative leader who is well known in his work with World War II 
veterans. Leading an exceptional team of professionals, Judge Day 
launched the Marion County Veterans Treatment Court in October of 2012. 
Just recently, Judge Day's Vet Court team competed for and was awarded 
a three year federal grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. As a 
result of this funding, and the broad base of community support for the 
vet court, Judge Day believes that his team can grow the program to 
service sixty veterans at any given time. Judge Day is a principled and 
visionary leader--a true Oregon pioneer in every sense of the word.
  We also want to recognize The Honorable Tracy Prall. Judge Prall has 
served on the Marion County Circuit Court since 2003. Judge Prall grew 
up in Keizer, Oregon and hails from a family of veterans. Her father 
and uncle served in the Vietnam War, and her maternal grandfather lost 
his right arm over North Africa in the early days of World War II while 
serving as a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Judge Prall's family 
service in the military extends back to the Revolution through her 
ancestor Captain Samuel Newell, a Virginia patriot. Judge Prall is part 
of the team being trained this week and serves as the judicial officer 
who steps in for Judge Day when he is unable to preside over the Marion 
County Veterans Treatment Court.
  E'lan Lambert is the Court Coordinator for the Marion County Veterans 
Treatment Court. We have been told that E'lan is a navy veteran who 
served in the Vietnam era and has been involved in veteran's issues for 
years, even starting a non-profit organization, Partnership for 
Veterans at Risk, some years ago.
  The Mentor Coordinator for the Marion County Veterans Treatment Court 
is Steve Koyen. Also a navy veteran of the Vietnam era, we understand 
that Mr. Koyen has a wealth of knowledge and experience he brings to 
this volunteer position. Mr. Koyen is nearly done with his Mentor 
Bootcamp at the Vet Con, and as I said before, the mentor aspect of 
these courts is such an important part of their success. Mr. Koyen 
should be given a ``shout out'' for the fine volunteer work he is 
doing.
  Deputy District Attorney Bryan Orrio is the prosecutor on the Marion 
County team and he is here attending the Vet Con, as well. We 
understand that Marion County District Attorney Walt Beglau selected 
Mr. Orrio not only because of his skill and experience as a prosecutor, 
but for his passion for veterans and the heritage they represent. 
Without the support of District Attorneys like Ed Caleb and Walt 
Beglau, veterans courts like Klamath and Marion County would not be 
free to thrive and grow. Mr. Orrio is one of those hard working 
Oregonians laboring to ensure our legal system keeps us safe, but 
fairly dispenses justice.
  Attorney Tom Sermak is also in attendance at the ``Vet Con'' 
conference this week. Mr. Sermak is the Executive Director of the 
Marion County Public Defender's Office and serve on the vet court team 
as one of the defense attorneys. We're told that Mr. Sermak has a long 
and distinguished history as a public defender in what is most 
typically a very adversarial system. Mr. Sermak's dedication to this 
new type of court--a non-adversarial, collaborative court--demonstrates 
his commitment to seeking justice for all through whatever creative 
means possible.
  The final member of the Marion County team attending the Vet Con is 
Austin Herman. Mr. Herman is the team's Parole and Probation Officer. 
It is Austin who does the daily contact and visits with the veteran 
defendants. We're told he is an affable and highly competent law 
enforcement officer who deeply cares for the program and the veterans 
it serves. Sheriff Jason Myers should be commended for his support for 
the court, but even more so for assigning Austin Herman to the team.
  Mr. Speaker, we are ever so grateful and proud to be associated with 
the patriots in Klamath and Marion County circuit courts who have 
established veterans treatment programs of such high quality. Judge Day 
told me recently that ``our soldiers are victors, not victims. They 
fought and bled for the liberties we enjoy. It is our task to fight for 
their freedom now--freedom from mental and physical pain, freedom to 
return home healthy, freedom to enjoy the legacy of their sacrifice.'' 
We could not agree more.

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