[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5887]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               JUDGE TOM ELLINGTON AND ``WE THE PEOPLE''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Municipal 
Court Judge Thomas Ellington in Washington State who received the 
annual William Nevins Award from the Washington Judges' Foundation for 
working tirelessly to educate youth about the judicial branch of 
government. Judge Ellington has spent the entirety of his judicial 
career working on behalf of ``We the People,'' a high school program 
that competes on the knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and what role 
students play as citizens.
  For more than two decades, dating back to his law school days, Judge 
Ellington has worked to help students understand how to properly engage 
in democracy and recognize the Constitution as an incredibly 
influential historic document.
  Not only has Judge Ellington played a `facilitator' role for the ``We 
the People'' program, but he improved it with innovative ideas: instead 
of heading into individual classrooms, Judge Ellington brought teachers 
and students in Washington State to him in the form of voluntary 
workshops. Whether serving as ``We the People'' advisory board 
president or simply volunteering his time and knowledge, Judge 
Ellington employs the heart of a servant.
  Such a high and prestigious honor such as the Williams Nevins Award 
must be awarded to someone in the legal profession who goes above and 
beyond the call of duty; Judge Thomas Ellington is that person. I want 
to congratulate for the recognition, thank him for his service to the 
State of Washington and the Nation and encourage him to continue on his 
path of leadership and selfless service.

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