[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2151]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF DANA NESSEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 2016

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dana Nessel, 
whose commitment to justice and equality has impacted the people of 
Michigan and citizens across the United States.
  Dana is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State 
University Law School and spent more than a decade working as an 
assistant prosecuting attorney for Wayne County, serving much of her 
tenure in special assignment units. She specialized in domestic 
homicides, child physical and sexual abuse cases, and investigations 
into police shootings and in-custody deaths of civilians. She is 
currently managing partner at Nessel and Kessel in Detroit, where she 
specializes in criminal defense and family law.
  In 2012, Dana championed the cause of marriage equality by initiating 
the case which challenged Michigan's ban on same-sex second party 
adoption, the case which would ultimately bring this important issue 
before the Supreme Court. The landmark decision of this case granted 
the dignity so many sought for so long: the right to commit to the 
person they love. Today, Dana continues to defend the rights of the 
LGBT community by pushing for protections against discrimination in 
state law across the country.
  Dana is this year's recipient of the Honorable Kaye Tertzag Purple 
Sport Coat Award. Given to those, who, like Judge Tertzag, show 
devotion and service to our Michigan community, Dana exemplifies his 
well-known motto: ``Be Prompt. Be Prepared. Be Polite.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Dana 
Nessel for her service to Michigan and our nation and wish her many 
years of success.

                          ____________________