It was with a heavy heart that I and my family received the news of Casey’s passing. Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to you and your entire family on the loss of a wonderful husband, an adoring father and grandfather and one of the most caring, kind, intelligent and compassionate human beings I have ever met and with whom I had the privilege to work.
Casey earned the reputation early in his career for being an effective advocate on behalf of those in California who could not afford the services of an attorney. He brought his Stanford legal education and his brilliant legal mind and put it to work in a lifelong commitment of service as an advocate of those in our state that could not afford the services of an attorney, or who otherwise did have a voice in government decisions affecting their lives. I want to share a few personal memories of Casey which attest to the impact he had throughout his long and exemplary legal career working on behalf of serving the interests of the poor and vulnerable populations of California.
I first met Casey in 1981 when he was the manager of the Woodland office of the Legal Services of Northern California. I had just moved from out of state (to follow my wife Elizabeth) from working as a civil rights attorney in Washington, D.C. and also as an assistant public defender in New Mexico. I applied for a staff attorney opening in the LSNC Woodland office. Casey hired me, letting me know that my civil rights and trial experience would be a good fit given the particular cases Casey had going at the time in Yolo county. This was the beginning of a working relationship and more importantly, a lifelong friendship. (I fondly remember how both of you made me feel welcomed to Woodland and would have me over for dinner…still remember your delicious vegetarian lasagna). That friendship grew throughout the years augmented by the fact that we mutually were growing our families in Woodland. Our children especially Mari and Katie developed their own friendships as they shared schools and life experiences that come from competitive sports. Over the years whenever Casey and I had a chance to chat, whether in the halls of the Capitol, in the State Hearings Office, or when we ran into each other as we were on our walks around town, we would always catch up on each other’s families. Casey always loved to talk about you and how the ministry was going, and how Katie & Amy were doing, and in recent years, the grandkids. He was so proud of all of you.
During the years I worked with Casey at LSNC, I was privileged to witness the impact of his litigation and advocacy, which included settling several federal class actions on behalf of women, Latinos and African Americans that began the important process of dismantling discriminatory employment practices in Yolo County, the City of Woodland and UC Davis. Casey spearheaded legal challenges to Yolo County’s General Assistance (GA) Program which resulted in increases to the GA payments to the poorest individuals residing in the county. Casey also was very effective in engaging agencies such as the Yolo County Housing Authority and the Department of Social Services in addressing and resolving questionable policies or practices before they became operative. Casey instituted the development of Self-Help packets to assist clients facing eviction or providing information to the community on the full range of public benefits. He always supported my and the staff initiatives to strengthen and expand the advocacy services provided to all sectors of Yolo County’s diverse and vulnerable populations including the homeless, farmworkers, the elderly, children, and immigrants.
When Casey left LSNC to begin his exemplary career with the Western Center on Law & Poverty as a policy and legislative advocate, he had mentored and prepared me to take over the reins of the Woodland office of LSNC, and for that I have always remained grateful. His contribution to my development played a big part in my subsequent success as a legal services and civil rights attorney with LSNC, the Mexican American Legal & Educational Defense Fund and the National Housing Law Project.
Casey went on to be the passionate and brilliant advocate providing an effective voice to those vulnerable populations in our state that are not always represented in the world of policy decision-making. He continued that legacy of ensuring that the perspective of those voices representing the policy and budgetary interests of the poor were also included in his role as chief consultant with the California State Assembly Committee on Human Services.
Our legal career paths crossed again in 2007. At that time, I was the Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) when Casey approached me and shared that he was thinking about a career change and asked me what I thought about the possibility of him becoming an ALJ. I was thrilled and I told him that given his 30 years of experience that he would be the most qualified candidate ever to serve as an ALJ. Casey was already an expert on the vast range of government programs for which we provide administrative fair hearings to any applicant or recipient who is appealing a denial or termination of public benefits. Casey became one the most respected and admired ALJs in the entire division, always going above and beyond to meet the Hearings Division mission of providing timely and legally correct decisions. Casey never had a late hearing decision. Most importantly, he brought those traits that always made him the wonderful human being he was, he always treated the appellants and all hearing participants before him with dignity and respect, kindness and understanding.
His tireless dedication to his work as an ALJ meant that at the end of a workday many of his written decisions would correct a factually and/or legally erroneous eligibility determination. His decisions truly made a difference to many vulnerable individual Californians. To the person already homeless or about to become homeless, his decision correcting the county’s CalWork’s mistake meant there would be money to pay rent. His decision correcting a county mistake regarding CalFresh food stamps meant there would be food on the table to feed a hungry family. His decision correcting a Department of Healthcare Services Medi-Cal mistake meant that mental health and/or physical illness and pain would be alleviated because Medi-Cal benefits would be available to cover treatment and medicines. His decision correcting a county’s mistake denying or drastically reducing In Home Support Services (IHSS) hours or protective supervision, meant that the disabled person could remain in their own home and avoid being placed in an institution. Casey made a difference in the lives of all the real human beings behind each and every one of these decisions, and thereby made a difference in all our lives.
Sharing a snapshot of some of my most cherished memories of Casey has helped bring peace and comfort as I grieve his loss. In some small way, I hope that they bring you comfort too. My family will make a contribution to both the Western Center on Law & Poverty and Yolo Hospice in Casey’s memory.
Rest in Peace, my friend.
Manuel A. Romero