[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13343-13344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



TRIBUTE TO CALIFORNIA'S SENIOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, THE LATE STANLEY 
                                  MOSK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2001

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to California's 
Senior Supreme Court Justice, the late Stanley Mosk.

[[Page 13344]]

  For the past 37 years, Mosk served as the court's independent voice 
and moral compass. His trailblazing decisions brought sweeping changes 
to California law long before such decisions were addressed at the 
national level. A vigorous advocate of individual liberties, Mosk lead 
state courts across the country to use their own constitutions to 
establish individual rights beyond those required under the federal 
constitution. In 1976, Mosk wrote the opinion that bars the use of 
improperly obtained confessions arguing that such confessions could not 
be used to challenge the truthfulness of a defendant who later 
testifies. While the U.S. Supreme Court allowed for such use, Mosk 
invoked the state Constitution and did not approve the practice. His 
always careful, thoughtful and considerate opinions, totaling 1,688 
over the span of his career, were widely regarded and highly acclaimed.
  Mosk, the longest-serving member in the court's 151-year history and 
only Democrat, was known for his shrewd political acumen and often 
criticized by his adversaries for his focused attention of the states 
shifting political climate. Nevertheless, Mosk remained dedicated to 
his role as a public servant and vigilant in his undertaking of civil 
and criminal law.
  A native of San Antonio, Mosk's career as a giant in the court began 
by serving 15 years on the Superior Court and six years as the State 
Attorney General. For a time, he served as the Democratic national 
committeeman from California but became weary of the fundraising 
component attached to political life and returned to the judicial 
branch as a member of the state Supreme Court.
  While Mosk's independent liberal voice will be missed, the legacy 
that he has left will continue to serve the people of California.

                          ____________________