ICYMI: REP. CORREA HAILS PASSAGE OF BILL TO NAME POST OFFICE AFTER THE FIRST LATINO JUDGE IN ORANGE COUNTY
“[He] went from being a farm worker, to the halls of justice in Orange County.”
ORANGE COUNTY, C.A. — Yesterday, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) took to the House floor to hail passage of his legislation, H.R. 5949, to designate the United States Post Office located on 615 North Bush Street in Santa Ana to the “Judge James Perez Post Office,” in honor of the first Latino attorney and Latino judge in Orange County.
“I rise to honor the life and legacy of Judge James Ortega Perez, part of the greatest generation. [He] grew up in my district…he answered the call of duty and joined the Army, where he served as a sergeant with the Army Corps of Engineers,” said Rep. Correa. “[He] went from being a farm worker, to the halls of justice in Orange County. And today, we honor the life and legacy of Judge Ortega Perez.”
You can watch a full clip of the Congressman’s remarks here.
Background: The Honorable Judge James Perez, who grew up working in the tomato fields in Southern California, proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1944 to 1946. Upon returning home from WWII, he enrolled at the University of Southern California, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a J.D. at the School of Law.
Judge Perez’s storied career was filled with many noteworthy “firsts.” After he passed the bar exam, he became the first Latino attorney in Orange County. Then, he also became the first Latino judge to serve on the Orange County Municipal Court after being appointed by Governor Pat Brown in 1966. Nine years later, in December of 1975, Governor Jerry Brown made him the first Latino judge to serve on the Orange County Superior Court. He held his title as Superior Court judge for 11 years and retired in 1987.
Judge Perez’s legacy lives on through two of his sons––the Honorable Judge Michael Perez and the Honorable Judge Joe T. Perez––who currently serve as Orange County Superior Court judges.
The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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