[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13080]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE LIFE OF EARL GILLIAM, A TRUE SAN DIEGO HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2004

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise to honor a truly great 
San Diego leader. Judge Earl B. Gilliam made a positive impact on San 
Diego as a judge, a teacher, and a community leader. I have introduced 
a bill (H.R. 4474) that will appropriately honor him by putting his 
name on a new post office in my district.
  Earl Gilliam grew up in southeast San Diego. His parents owned a fish 
market on Imperial Avenue where he worked when he was not attending San 
Diego High School. He went on to complete his undergraduate education 
at San Diego State University before moving on to Hastings Law School.
  Shortly after being admitted to the California Bar in 1957, he was 
appointed Deputy District Attorney in San Diego. He became the first 
African-American judge appointed to the San Diego bench 6 years later 
and was named Presiding Judge of the San Diego Municipal Court in 1971. 
Governor Jerry Brown named him to the California Superior Court in 1975 
and President Jimmy Carter appointed him to serve on the United States 
District Court for the Southern District of California in 1980. He 
served there for over 20 years, until his passing in 2001.
  In his long, distinguished career Judge Gilliam presided over 
numerous noteworthy trials of regional and national importance: Whether 
these cases dealt with drug trafficking, fraud, tax evasion, bribery, 
or civil matters, Judge Gilliam's fair and professional approach to the 
law laid the foundation for his solid reputation both within and 
outside the legal community.
  In addition to his contributions in the courtroom, Judge Gilliam also 
made his mark in the classroom. The Thomas Jefferson School of Law 
recruited Judge Gilliam as an adjunct professor. With his background in 
business, economics, and civil, criminal, and trial law, he proved to 
be an inspirational and devoted instructor for the numerous courses he 
taught there over the next 24 years. So much so that the school's moot 
courtroom has been dedicated in his honor.
  Judge Gilliam gave his time and effort to his community in countless 
ways. He served on the boards of numerous organizations ranging from 
the San Diego Urban League to the University of California, San Diego 
to the Y.M.C.A. The community, in turn, has honored Judge Gilliam 
repeatedly with an unbelievably long, diverse list of awards that 
attest to his unrelenting success in making a difference in San Diego.
  In 1982, the San Diego African American Lawyer's Organization honored 
Judge Gilliam by changing its name to the Earl B. Gilliam Bar 
Association. Today, they carry on his legacy by working within our 
community to defend the rights of African-Americans, combat racism and 
poverty, and foster integrity in the legal community.
  Judge Gilliam truly was a hero who worked for all of San Diego. I am 
glad to have the privilege of introducing this legislation to name a 
post office in his honor and I hope my colleagues will support me in 
celebrating his many achievements.

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