[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13383]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DAVID FINKEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIA BROWNLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2015

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize 
the remarkable life of David B. Finkel, an honorable veteran, a 
distinguished civil rights attorney, an esteemed elected official, and 
someone I was privileged to call a friend. David deeply impacted 
countless lives by standing up for civil rights, freedom of speech, 
affordable housing, and educational equality for over six decades. 
David was also a longtime and devoted member of the Sholem community 
and will be remembered for his integrity and compassion as a ``warrior 
for justice.''
  David, the son of Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in Europe, 
lived through historical events such as the Great Depression and World 
War II. These heavy experiences shaped David into a lifelong advocate 
for social justice by instilling deep values within him of humility and 
humanitarianism. In his youth, David served as Bal Torah at Temple 
B'nai Abraham under Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who advocated for equality as 
a speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. This experience gave David a 
deeper understanding of human rights that he carried with him 
throughout his life.
  During the Cold War, David served in the U.S. Army and refused to 
sign the loyalty oath when his mother was brought before the House Un-
American Activities Committee. David won a case before the U.S. Supreme 
Court when he argued that a son should not be forced to choose between 
the 10th Amendment to honor country and the 10th Commandment to honor 
family. David's involvement in this case carved a path for him to 
follow a career in law and justice.
  Through discipline and dedication, David obtained his undergraduate 
degree from the University of Chicago in 1951 and earned his Juris 
Doctorate from the University of Southern California in 1959. In the 
1960s, David worked during the Freedom Summer in Mississippi, as well 
as a defense lawyer of conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War.
  In his noteworthy legal career, David was known for his work ethic as 
he tried cases representing labor unions advocating for working 
families, freedom of speech cases for professors and students, and 
discrimination cases promoting racial equality and protecting civil 
rights.
  David began his notable political career when he became a founding 
member of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights in 1981 and was elected to 
the Santa Monica Rent Control Board in 1983. David was first elected to 
the Santa Monica City Council in 1986, where he served a period as 
Mayor Pro-Tempore. David was then elected to the Los Angeles Superior 
Court in Santa Monica in 1984. Upon retirement from the bench, David 
began to humbly teach at Santa Monica City College in 2002 as he wanted 
to contribute more to the community. In 2006, David was recruited and 
elected to the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees, where he served 
until 2014.
  Those who knew David, remember him fondly as a compassionate, 
thoughtful, and brilliant advocate for his community. David worked with 
a great spirit and it was his steadfast commitment to serving his 
community that made for a particularly extraordinary career and life.
  In heartfelt recognition and appreciation of the outstanding impact 
and contributions that David made to his community and country, I wish 
to send my sincere condolences to his wife, Bruria, his family, and to 
all who knew him. His work and legacy are immeasurable, and his 
presence in the community will be greatly missed.

                          ____________________