[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 25591-25592]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IN TRIBUTE TO THE HON. DELORES J. THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 22, 2009

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a tireless 
leader in the community.
  Born and raised in Boligee, Alabama, Delores Thomas began her career 
at Alabama State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 
Political Science. Shortly thereafter, Delores Thomas received her 
Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia Law School. Upon 
successful completion of her Juris Doctorate, Delores Thomas was 
admitted to the State and Federal Bar Association in Georgia and New 
York.
  Delores Thomas began her legal career as a staff and management 
attorney for the Housing Immigration and Unemployment Law Units at 
Brooklyn Legal Services. She also served as an Administrative Law Judge 
with the New York City Parking Bureau and was president and organizer 
for the Legal Services Staff Association for District 65 UAW.

[[Page 25592]]

  Delores Thomas began years of succession to various judicial posts 
throughout her career. In March of 1994, Delores Thomas was appointed 
as Judge in the Housing part of Civil Court, handling landlord and 
tenant issues. In November of 2002, Justice Thomas was elected to the 
Civil Court bench, becoming the first African-American elected to a 
countywide judgeship.
  Justice Thomas' most recent appointment is to the Supreme Court. 
While serving on the Supreme Court, Justice Thomas was assigned to the 
Matrimonial Trial Part of the Supreme Court. Justice Delores Thomas is 
currently one of four judges in Kings County, Brooklyn, and the only 
African-American judge assigned to hear and determine matrimonial cases 
pertaining to dissolution of marriages and custody of children.
  Justice Delores Thomas serves as a member of various organizations, 
such as the Judicial Friends, the National Association of Women Judges, 
the Brooklyn Bar Association, the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association and 
the New York City Bar Association. In her civic capacity, Justice 
Delores Thomas is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Society, the Eastern 
Star Organization, and Church Women United, Inc.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this 
relentless and dynamic public servant.

                          ____________________