[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF HON. JUDGE ERNESTINE S. GRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CEDRIC L. RICHMOND

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2020

  Mr. RICHMOND. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the retirement of the 
Honorable Judge Ernestine S. Gray who served as a judge in the Orleans 
Parish Juvenile Court in New Orleans for over 35 years.
  A native of South Carolina, Judge Ernestine S. Gray was educated in 
Orangeburg before graduating from Spelman College in 1971 and Louisiana 
State University Law Center in 1976. Prior to her election to the 
Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, Judge Gray was involved in private 
practice. During her career in public service she worked in the 
Louisiana Attorney General's office focusing on antitrust law issues 
and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as a trial 
attorney.
  From the beginning of her career, Judge Gray has dedicated herself to 
the juvenile justice system. She demonstrated that commitment through 
her work at the Baton Rouge Legal Aid Society where she presided over 
several family law cases. Judge Gray also held various president level 
positions at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 
National CASA, and the local YWCA amongst others. Currently, she serves 
as the president of the Pelican Center for Children and Families.
  A highly respected public servant, and member of Delta Sigma Theta 
Sorority, Inc., Judge Gray is the recipient of numerous awards 
including the 2018 American Bar Foundation Outstanding Service Award, 
the 2013 City Business Leadership in Law Award, the 2011 Louisiana 
Association of Black Woman Attorney's Trailblazer Award, the 2008 
Honorary Membership for the Louisiana Chapter of the Order of the Coif, 
the 2004 recipient of Spirit of Crazy Horse Award Reclaiming Youth 
International, the 2002 Albert Elias Award for Advancement of 
Compassionate Care of Troubled Youth, the National Council on Crime and 
Delinquency Prevention, and the 1995 American Bar Association Franklin 
D. Flaschner Judicial Award.
  Judge Gray had an extraordinary judicial career and truly made a 
substantial impact on the lives of children and families in New 
Orleans. We cannot match the sacrifices made by Judge Gray, but surely 
we can try to match her sense of service. We cannot match her courage, 
but we can strive to match her devotion.
  Madam Speaker, I celebrate the retirement of the Honorable Judge 
Ernestine S. Gray.

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