[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18950-18951]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JUDGE JAMES DeANDA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, last week, hundreds of family, friends, and 
admirers gathered in Houston, TX, to honor the life of a WWII veteran, 
legal giant, and true American hero, U.S. district judge James DeAnda. 
Judge DeAnda died last Thursday, September 7, 2006, at the age of 81. 
Throughout his life, he quietly went about his work of ensuring that 
Hispanic Americans were guaranteed the same protections and rights 
afforded them in our Constitution.
  Today, we mourn his passing and pay tribute to his important 
contributions to this Nation. I am joined by Senator Salazar, who is 
familiar with the importance of Judge DeAnda's legacy. Senator Salazar, 
what do you believe are Judge DeAnda's most important legal victories?
  Mr. SALAZAR. Thank you, Senator Reid, for your recognition of Judge 
DeAnda. One of his most significant cases came in 1954, when he worked 
on and argued a little-known but enormously significant case before the 
U.S. Supreme Court. I should also mention that Judge DeAnda, together 
with a legal team of three other Mexican-American attorneys, were the 
first Mexican-American attorneys to argue before the highest Court in 
our land.
  In Hernandez v. Texas, Judge DeAnda believed that their client, Pete 
Hernandez, could not receive a fair and impartial trial unless members 
of other

[[Page 18951]]

races served on the jury. Through careful research, Judge DeAnda showed 
that Hispanics in Jackson County, TX, were essentially barred from 
serving as jurors despite comprising a significant proportion of the 
population at the time. In fact, no Hispanic had served on any jury in 
Jackson County for a quarter century. The Supreme Court agreed and 
overturned the murder conviction. They unanimously ruled that Mexican 
Americans and all other racial groups in the United States had equal 
protection under the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
  Despite this major legal victory, the Hernandez case was overshadowed 
by a companion case, Brown v. Board of Education, which was decided 
just a week later. But the results of this decision are evident in 
American courtrooms everywhere. Because of this decision alone, Judge 
DeAnda holds a special place in our country's history and our quest to 
become a more inclusive America.
  Mr. REID. Yes, I agree with the Senator from Colorado. Judge DeAnda 
no doubt played a key role in our Nation's history. He was a key leader 
in the Latino civil rights movement who worked tirelessly to foster 
legal equality for Latinos and all Americans. Like many great 
Americans, Judge DeAnda rose from humble beginnings.
  The son of Mexican immigrants, Judge DeAnda was born in Houston, TX. 
He interrupted his college education at Texas A&M University to join 
the Marines during World War II, serving in the Pacific and then later 
China. When he returned from the war, he completed his studies and then 
enrolled in the University of Texas Law School in 1950, where he was 
among the first Hispanics admitted.
  Beyond the Hernandez case, Judge DeAnda took on countless other cases 
in his fight to end segregation of Hispanics in Texas. In 1968, he went 
before the Supreme Court in the case of Cisneros v. Corpus Christi ISD, 
a case that led to the desegregation and increased funding of schools 
in that city. It was also during that year that Judge DeAnda helped to 
establish one of the most respected national Hispanic organizations, 
the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, MALDEF. 
Senator Salazar, would you say that the founding of MALDEF has 
empowered the Hispanic community in our country?
  Mr. SALAZAR. As a Hispanic who grew up in the Southwest, I can say 
that the impact of MALDEF's establishment has been profound. As the 
Hispanic community's legal advocate, MALDEF has taken on cases 
throughout the country. In my own State, their work has helped improved 
access to equal education for Hispanics.
  Judge DeAnda was also actively involved with Hispanic organizations 
like the League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC, and the 
American G.I. Forum. By working with MALDEF, they ensured that Hispanic 
veterans, who gave the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield, were not 
denied burial in our veterans cemeteries. Judge DeAnda's leadership was 
visionary and was recognized by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, who 
nominated him to serve as a Federal judge in the Southern District of 
Texas. At the time of his appointment, he was only the Nation's second 
Mexican-American Federal district judge.
  Despite all of his contributions to the Latino community, Judge 
DeAnda never sought the limelight. He only strove to ensure equal 
rights for all in this country through his thorough representation and 
fair consideration of those who came before his court. I find his own 
words to be the most telling. He is said to have told a group of law 
school students once, ``You will find law to be a most satisfying 
career because of the service you can give your fellow man. I know of 
no other endeavor in which you can bring about healthy change and make 
a decent living. You can live well and do good.''
  Judge DeAnda certainly did good and we are grateful to him for his 
service.
  Mr. REID. We are truly indebted to Judge DeAnda. Indeed, it is only 
fitting that as our Nation begins a month-long celebration of Hispanic 
contributions to America during Hispanic Heritage Month, we take this 
time to acknowledge Judge DeAnda. We are deeply saddened by his passing 
but are also inspired by his example as we carry on the struggle to 
ensure equity for all Americans. His life-long dedication to the 
protection of Americans has made him an icon in the legal profession 
and a pioneer of the American civil rights movement.
  Judge DeAnda will be missed by all, but certainly by his wife Joyce 
and their four children. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

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