[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)] [Senate] [Page S7606] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] TRIBUTE TO JUDGE JOHN MENDOZA Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise before the Senate today to call attention to one of Nevada's finest advocacy programs. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, CASA. In Clark County, NV, the CASA program became a reality as a direct result of the efforts of Judge John F. Mendoza. Today I ask my colleagues to join with me in applauding the noble deeds performed by Judge Mendoza and the CASA Program. Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, John received his juris doctor degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1952. After returning to Nevada, he eventually served as Clark County district attorney, North Las Vegas city attorney, and Justice of the Peace of Las Vegas Township. His Honor was elected to district court judge of the State of Nevada, a position he held for 24 years. Judge Mendoza served as the president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. During his career, Judge Mendoza recognized the desperate need for skilled and timely decisionmaking in the lives of abused, neglected and abandoned children, not only in Nevada but across the country. He used his knowledge, passion, and energy to educate and extract a level of excellence when dealing with caseworkers, parents and court proceedings in regard to appropriate needs evaluation and placement. He demanded a clear vision of roles and procedures. He held caseworkers responsible to the children they represented and answerable to the court for decisions they made. Judge Mendoza recognized the lack of quality in the court process and did not tolerate the unfortunate delays in court hearing dates which often resulted in children literally growing up without permanent homes. As a result, Judge Mendoza championed national guidelines for improving court practices in child protective cases. He helped to establish methods for monitoring court schedules to prevent unnecessary delays and to control continuances. He urged competent representation thru the CASA and guardian ad litem programs. Through his tireless efforts, family courts began to take into account not only the children's safety but also the emotional impact of separation. A lifetime of dedication to the rights of the children of Nevada and beyond has resulted in a national program that engages volunteers to be a voice for neglected and abused children. Each CASA volunteer in turn has an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Judge John Mendoza in making a meaningful and constructive difference. Those footsteps lead to protecting and preserving the rights and interests of children who are unsafe in their own homes; to insuring that all aspects of the family court system perform in a child's best interest and secures a safe and permanent home for that child. I am deeply grateful for the work performed by CASA and its many volunteers. The chance to advocate on behalf of someone in need is the greatest opportunity afforded to those who serve in our legal system. I stand before the Senate today and thank the CASA program and Judge Mendoza for these 30 years of remarkable service. ____________________