[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 117 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E737-E738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF VERNA ADAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2024

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
honorable Judge Verna Adams as she becomes only the fourth recipient 
and first woman to accept the Marin County Bar Association's Lifetime 
Achievement Award.
  Verna grew up in the town of South Bend, Indiana, as the youngest of 
five siblings. Even at an early age, she knew that a law career was in 
her future. After graduating as the valedictorian from her high school, 
Verna received her bachelor of arts from Wellesley College in 1967. She 
enrolled at Columbia Law School for her first year before transferring 
to Stanford. During her time at Stanford, she interned with the legal 
branch of the California Farm Workers' Union, which was led by Cesar 
Chavez. Upon receiving her Juris Doctorate in 1970, Verna began working 
at a small law firm in San Francisco.
  Verna moved to Marin County in 1971 when she was offered a full-time 
role as an associate by a female-led firm, Diamond and Savitt. Her 
arrival made it the largest all-woman law firm in the nation. It was 
here that she would discover her passion for family law and community 
engagement. Verna served on the Board of Directors for Planned 
Parenthood and volunteered at Legal Aid of Marin, taking pro bono cases 
whenever she could. In 1986, Verna was among a small group of attorneys

[[Page E738]]

who founded the Family and Children's Law Center to provide low-cost 
legal services to those with family law issues, including those 
suffering from domestic abuse.
  Judge Adams was sworn in as a Judge of the Marin County Superior 
Court in 1999, marking the beginning of more than 24 years of service 
on the bench. During that time, she was elected by her fellow judges to 
serve as Presiding Judge and was selected by the Chief Justice of 
California as one of only nineteen judges to serve on the Strategic 
Evaluation Committee, entrusted with improving court administration 
across the state. Judge Adams' new role and responsibilities imbued her 
with the power to create meaningful change for self-represented 
litigants. She founded the Legal Self-Help Center of Marin, where those 
without attorneys could obtain assistance with filling out legal forms 
and gain general legal information. The center has provided for an 
immense need in Marin County.
  Judge Adams has dedicated her illustrious career to empowering some 
of the most marginalized people of our community--children, women, 
victims of domestic abuse, and anyone else who must traverse the legal 
system without legal representation--to access our justice system. When 
Judge Adams was first appointed to the bench, Marin had only one 
specialty court. Almost 25 years later, Judge Adams' leadership and 
advocacy for undeserved populations has led to the creation of three 
specialty courts for mental health, domestic violence, and drug use.
  Judge Adams' legacy is one of distinguished service to the County of 
Marin and worthy of distinction. Please join me in congratulating her 
as she accepts this prestigious lifetime achievement award and 
expressing our deep appreciation for her long and exceptional career 
and outstanding contributions to our legal system.

                          ____________________