MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Suber, Boyd, Chism, Parks, Sparks, Whaley, Branning

Senate Resolution 41

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO THE DISTINGUISHED LEGAL CAREER AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF THIRD DISTRICT CIRCUIT JUDGE JOHN A. GREGORY OF OKOLONA, MISSISSIPPI, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE BENCH.

     WHEREAS, we join The Mississippi Bar and the citizens of the Third Circuit Court District in honoring the judicial service of Judge John A. Gregory of Okolona, Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, Circuit Judge John A. Gregory of Okolona, Mississippi, has announced that he will retire on June 30, 2020.  Judge Gregory, 68 years old, has 43 years of public service; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Gregory took office as a Circuit Judge of the Third Circuit District in January 2011.  The district includes Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union Counties; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Gregory is a graduate of Okolona High School and the University of Mississippi, where he played football.  He earned his law degree from the former Jackson School of Law, now Mississippi College School of Law.  Judge Gregory began his legal career as a Law Clerk for Supreme Court Justice Stokes V. Robertson.  He was an Assistant District Attorney for the Third Circuit District for nine years.  He was elected for six terms as Chickasaw County Prosecuting Attorney and served 23 years.  He served as attorney for the Okolona Municipal Separate School District for 23 years, Board Attorney for the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisor for 19 years and as Okolona City Attorney for 15 years.  Judge Gregory is a Fellow of The Mississippi Bar Foundation, Past President of the Okolona Chamber of Commerce and an Elder of Okolona Presbyterian Church; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Gregory has served as a leader and mentor and consistently lectured on professional standards of the practice, including ethics, integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule.  His judicial service honored both The Mississippi Bar, his community and the State of Mississippi:      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the Mississippi Senate to the distinguished legal career and public service of Third District Circuit Court Judge John A. Gregory of Okolona, Mississippi, upon the occasion of his retirement from the bench and send our best wishes to Judge Gregory and his family on this auspicious occasion.

     Be it further resolved, that this resolution be presented to Judge Gregory, forwarded to the Mississippi Conference of Circuit Court Judges, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.