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Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I lost a dear friend and law school classmate and Californians lost a true champion of public interest and civil liberties. Joe Remcho died tragically in a helicopter accident. He will be sorely missed. I met Joe in law school 37 years ago. We became quick and close friends. After law school we took different paths, but both reveled in politics, public interest, and public policy. Joe became an acknowledged expert in first amendment, election law, and civil liberties. As a rookie lawyer, he represented soldiers in Saigon during the Vietnam War and later worked as a staff attorney and lobbyist for the ACLU in San Francisco and Sacramento. He became an advisor to many public officials, including California Governor Gray Davis, Senator DIANNE FEINSTEIN, and me and was sought after for his skill, his decency, and his common sense. His advocacy greatly influenced the redistricting process in California, and he brought numerous cases involving voter initiatives, term limits, and campaign finance. Legal titan that he was, I will remember Joe as quiet and self-effacing, a truly decent individual who eschewed headlines and publicity. He always had time to give advice to his friends, often pro bono. Recently, he helped me with a small, but important, family issue. People like Joe are rare, but their impact great. Joe Remcho's legacy will inspire young lawyers for years to come. To his family, friends, clients, and other classmates, my family extends our deepest condolences.
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