SJ 352 — Celebrating the life of the Honorable John Samuel Johnston, Jr.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23105644D I SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

352 E N Offered February 16, 2023 Celebrating the life of the Honorable Joh––––––––––ohnston,John Samuel Johnston, Jr.

TAgreed Patrons––Newman,to Peake,by Deeds,the McDougle,Senate, RuffFebruary and21, Surovell;2023 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 22, 2023 O L of Virginia, died on December 10, 2022;

Delegates:andton, Jr., a longtime judge of the 24th Judicial Circuit WHEREAS, Samuel "Sam" Johnston grew up in Alabama and attended public schools;

Byron,he Farissearned anda WalkerRL ––––––––––bachelor's WHEREAS,degree from the HonorableUniversity Johnof SamuelAlabama Johnston,and Jr.,remained a longtimeloyal judgefan of the 24thAlabama JudicialCrimson CircuitE TidWHEREAS, Sam Johnston earned a law degree from the University of Virginia, diedwhere onhe Decemberwas 10,D 2022;elected to the law school council as a third-year student, then served as a clerk for a federal judge in Alabama;

and D WHEREAS, SamuelSam "Sam" Johnston grewpracticed uplaw inwith Alabamathe andfirm attendedKizer, publicPhillips schools;& Petty until he was selected 1977;

he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and remained a loyal fan of the Alabama Crimson TidWHEREAS, Sam Johnston earned a law degree from the University of Virginia, where he was C elected to the law school council as a third-year student, then served as a clerk for a federalEjudge in Alabama;

and WHEREAS, Sam Johnston practiced law with the firm Kizer, Phillips & Petty until he was selected as a judge in the Campbell County General District Court of the 24th Judicial District of Virginia in 1977;

andandct of Virginia in WHEREAS, four years later, Sam Johnston was elevated to the Campbell County Circuit Court of the 24th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, becoming the youngest circuit court judge in the Commonwealth at S the age of 34;

andCircuit of Virginia, becoming the youngest circuit court judge in the Commonwealth at WHEREAS, Sam Johnston presided over his courts with great fairness and wisdom5 and earned the admiration of his colleagues for his patience and professionalism;

among his many achievements as a E judge, he proudly oversaw the construction of a new courthouse in Campbell County in 1991;

and SR WHEREAS, Sam Johnston served the Commonwealth as a member of task forces related to drunk 5 driving and parole and sentencing reform, and he was a charter member of the Virginia Sentencin2Sentencing Commission;ComWHEREAS, Sam Johnston was a sought-after lecturer and presenter who offered his wisdom and expertise to civic organizations and bar associations throughout the Commonwealth and the nation;

and expertise to civic organizations and bar associations throughout the Commonwealth and the nation;

and WHEREAS, in later life, Sam Johnston was a founding member of Juridical Solutions, a mediation group staffed by retired judges from across the Commonwealth;

andandJuridical Solutions, a mediation WHEREAS, outside of his career, Sam Johnston was a voracious reader, an expert at crossword puzzles, and an avid outdoorsman who spent countless hours in his garden and was well known for his :wilWHEREAS, predeceased by one son, Adam, Sam Johnston will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his beloved wife of 54 years, Elizabeth;

35his wilWHEREAS,children, predeceasedMargaret, byWhitaker, oneMollie, son,Annie Adam,Gordon, Samand Johnstonbonus willdaughter bePage, fondly remembered and greatlytheir 36families; missed by his beloved wife of 54 years, Elizabeth;

his children, Margaret, Whitaker, Mollie, Annie / 37 Gordon, and bonus daughter Page, and their families;

/ 38 now, therefore, be it 39 RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable John Samuel Johnston, Jr., a highly respected former judge in Campbell County;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable John Samuel Johnston, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.