[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 194 (Wednesday, November 29, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1617-E1618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF JUDGE PREGERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 29, 2017

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life 
of Judge Harry Pregerson--a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and 
great-grandfather--who passed away on November 25, 2017 at the age of 
94. He was a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  Harry Pregerson was born on October 13, 1923 in Los Angeles, CA and 
attended the University of California, Los Angeles and the University 
of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. In 1992, the UCLA 
Alumni Association awarded Harry the ``Community Service Award'' for 
his efforts helping homeless families to house in Salvation Army 
shelters. Harry was also a United States Marine

[[Page E1618]]

Corps First Lieutenant in World War II and suffered severe wounds in 
the Battle of Okinawa. In 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
honored Harry and presented him with a token of appreciation with the 
VA seal.
  In 1967, Harry was first appointed by President Lyndon Johnson as a 
judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of 
California. In 1979, he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a 
judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District. 
Harry took senior status in 2015 at the age of 92 after 36 years on the 
9th Circuit.
  Harry's judicial philosophy was frequently characterized as being 
committed to social justice and ensuring due process for all Americans. 
He was a strong supporter of federalism, which was evident in his 
majority decision for Gonzales v. Raich, holding that the Interstate 
Commerce Clause forbade the federal government from interfering with 
state laws that permitted the use of medical marijuana. Judge Pregerson 
focused a spotlight on due process issues for death row inmates as he 
felt many had not been given fair trials.
  In 2002, the California Legislature named the interchange between 
Interstate 110 and Interstate 105 the ``Judge Harry Pregerson 
Interchange'' in honor of Harry, the longest-serving judge in the 
history of the Ninth Circuit. When he was a district judge, he 
supervised the settlement of a federal lawsuit against the Century 
Freeway, enabling the construction of the interchange that would later 
be named after him. In this settlement, he made sure construction jobs 
were set aside for women and minorities and a training program was in 
place to give them the needed skills. He also ensured that affordable 
housing was built for residents displaced by the project.
  Harry is survived by his wife of 70 years, Bernardine, children, Dean 
Pregerson, who is a federal district judge for the Central District of 
California, and Katie Rodan, son-in-law Amnon Rodan, daughter-in-law 
Sharon Pregerson, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Harry 
viewed the bench as a way to improve the lives of others. I hope his 
family takes comfort in the way Harry lived his life as a one-of-a-kind 
patriotic, selfless and caring public servant who let his conscience 
inform his rulings. May his memory be a blessing to us all.

                          ____________________