From Queens Bench Newsletter, March 2008

Queen’s Bench is delighted to announce that the keynote speaker at our Annual Judges’ Dinner on May 29, 2008 will be United States Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. Congresswoman Lofgren represents the 16th Congressional District (Santa Clara County), serves as Chair of the 34 member California Democratic Congressional Delegation, and serves on the House Judiciary Committee, Committee on Homeland Security, and Committee on House Administration.

Congresswoman Lofgren is a powerful role model for Queen’s Bench members because, in addition to her stellar track record in leadership of our country, she is a former practicing lawyer, former law professor, and a working mother. She was born on December 21, 1947 in San Mateo, California. She is married to John Marshall Collins, and is the mother of two children, Sheila and John Collins.

She attended K-12 public schools in Palo Alto, California. She then received her B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University in 1970, and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Santa Clara School of Law in 1975.

In her early career, Congresswoman Lofgren served as Staff Assistant to her predecessor, Congressman Don Edwards in 1970-1978. She worked on impeachment proceedings, the Equal Rights Amendment, and creation of the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge in the South San Francisco Bay. Congresswoman Lofgren also practiced immigration law as a partner in the firm of Webber & Lofgren in 1978-1980, and taught immigration law at University of Santa Clara School of Law from 1977-1980. She served on Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, 1981-1994

Congresswoman Lofgren was elected in to the House of Representatives in 1994 as only freshman Democrat from west of the Rocky Mountains. She currently serves on the Committee on the Judiciary in the role of Chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, and on the Subcommittee on Administrative Law. On the Committee on Homeland Security, she serves on the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism. On the Committee on House Administration, she is Chair of the Subcommittee on Elections.

Among other accomplishments during her Congressional tenure, Congresswoman Lofgren has:

• Introduced legislation to accelerate the development of fusion as a long-term energy source, which was included in the comprehensive House energy bill (H.R. 4).
• Successfully fought to initiate the “e-rate” that provides affordable Internet access for schools, libraries, and rural health centers.
• Served as Democratic floor manager for the 21st Century Patent Improvement Act.
• Initiated the SAFE Act to ease export control on encryption.

Please see the flyer for further information on our May 29 Annual Judges’ Dinner, and mark your calendars for a fun and exciting evening with Congresswoman Lofgren!

Source: http://lofgren.house.gov