Statement on the Floor of the House
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Justice Stanley Mosk, a justice of the California Supreme Court, who died a couple of weeks ago after 37 years on the California Supreme Court.
He was remembered at his funeral service for what speaker after speaker called his ``legacy of justice.'' Stanley Mosk was the only Democrat on the State High Court and a very progressive member. He died in San Francisco.
He was my neighbor and he was my friend. Our colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. SCHIFF), will be speaking more specifically about Stanley Mosk's contribution to the law in California and our country. I want to speak briefly about him personally.
Stanley Mosk was a genius. He was a great tennis player. He took great pride in that. He might have wanted that to be first. He was a great family person. Of course, that did come first. He was a person of such great intellect that his decisions when he wrote them were the subject of great admiration and study by law students and admired by those who followed the law. He will be greatly missed in San Francisco, where the supreme court resides in California.
He was the first person elected statewide in California, when he ran for office many years ago, the first person of the Jewish religion ever elected. Once and for all, he settled that issue. Because of Stanley Mosk, Jewish candidates know that their religion is not a factor in elections in this great State. Indeed, if they were a factor at all, it is a plus.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I want to mention further that it is said of him that many people learned much about pain and much about joy from him.
Stanley Mosk did not want to retire. He went home, he was with his family, but he planned to retire in the fall. So, if I am hesitant about this, it is with great sorrow that I tell our colleagues that Stanley was vigorous to the end, of course, with his great and powerful intellect, benefiting all of us to the end.
His plan was to retire in the fall. That was not in the cards for him. God took him sooner. But I want his family to know that many of us in the Congress mourn his passing, and I hope it is a comfort to them that so many people share their grief, but also their great pride in California Justice Stanley Mosk.
Statement Submitted for the Record
Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay my final respects to California Supreme Court Justice Stanley Mosk. It is with great sadness and deep respect that I share with my colleagues the following words on the life of Justice Stanley Mosk.
Justice Mosk was born in San Antonio, Texas, graduated from the University of Chicago Law School, and in 1933 he moved to California. Justice Mosk served for his country in WWII before returning to his family and career as a judge of the Superior Court in Los Angeles. Justice Mosk was elected Attorney General in 1958 with an overwhelming million vote majority--the largest of any election that year. During his six years as the Chief Law Officer of the State of California he argued before the United States Supreme Court in the Arizona v. California water case and other landmark cases before the California Supreme Court. In 1961 Justice Mosk was credited with persuading the Professional Golf Association to admit African American golfers. In 1964 Justice Mosk was appointed to the California Supreme Court by Governor Pat Brown.
Justice Mosk was an astute, independent thinker whose tenure as a California Supreme Court Justice was both brilliant and controversial. As Mosk's former colleague California Chief Justice Ronald George stated correctly, ``Stanley Mosk was giant in the law``. He revealed that status by writing nearly 1,500 opinions while serving for 37 years, the longest tenure of any California Supreme Court Justice. Stanley Mosk continued his tireless efforts until his last day. Each year in the last decade, Justice Mosk authored more opinions than any other Supreme Court Justice. Although widely considered a liberal, he chose not to abide to any limitations on his opinions. On several occasions, Justice Mosk's decisions stunned the legal and political community.
As Justice, Mosk traveled extensively. He observed the South-West Africa case at the World Court, on behalf of the State Department. He lectured throughout Africa thereafter. Justice Mosk traveled to the Netherlands in 1970 to participate in summer sessions of The Hague Academy of International Law at the Peace Palace. Justice Mosk lectured at Universities throughout the United States as well.
Justice Mosk was valued and respected by his colleagues. He will be
remembered as a passionate proponent of the will of the law. Justice Mosk was
one of the most influential figures in shaping California law and his death
brings a void to the bench that will not easily be filled. Justice Mosk was
confirmed for a new twelve-year term in November of 1998. Sadly, he was not able
to fulfill the wishes of the California people. The death of Justice Stanley
Mosk is a tremendous loss to the California Supreme Court, to California, and to
America's judicial system. My thoughts and prayers are with Justice Mosk's wife
Kaygey, and his son Richard. We will all miss him greatly.