House Resolution 98

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER AND MERITORIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE THAT THE HONORABLE JUDGE ANDREW K. HOWORTH PROVIDED AS THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE OF THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, the Honorable Andrew K. Howorth, Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit Court District of Mississippi, which covers Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union Counties, will retire from the bench on June 30, 2020, after dedicating more than 18 years of judicial service to the great State of Mississippi and its citizens; and

WHEREAS, a native and lifelong resident of Oxford, Mississippi, Judge Howorth graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law and was admitted to practice law in 1987, and during his years in private practice, he represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation; and

WHEREAS, Judge Howorth was first sworn into his position on the Third Circuit Court on January 2, 2002, after former Governor Ronnie Musgrove appointed him to fill a vacancy, and since that day, he has been reelected to that seat for five terms and currently serves as the senior judge of the three judges on that court; and

WHEREAS, additionally, Judge Howorth presides over the Third Circuit Drug Court that he founded in 2007, which currently has 348 participants enrolled and is one of the largest intervention courts in the state, and for the past year and a half, he served on the State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, Judge Howorth has been an exceptional leader among all of the circuit court judges, as he has served as Vice Chair and then Chair of the Conference of Circuit Court Judges, and he has also taken an active role in planning the curriculum of continuing education for his fellow judges through his service on the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Judicial College; and

WHEREAS, not only has Judge Howorth been a remarkable addition to the Third Circuit Court but he is also a notable pillar of the Oxford community, as he was named Oxford's Citizen of the Year in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Judge Howorth has served as a leader and mentor to an untold number of people, and his extraordinary judicial service has undoubtedly honored The Mississippi Bar, the City of Oxford and the great State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, after over 18 years of judicial service to the people of the Third Circuit Court District of Mississippi, retirement will surely leave an insatiable void for upholding the rule of law and mingling with Mississippi's finest in the heart of Judge Howorth, but he is overjoyed to relax and reflect on the countless number of phenomenal people that have touched his life throughout his 18-year career as the Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit Court District of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the tireless devotion to the betterment of Mississippi and honor the ardent vow to impeccable public service that Judge Andrew K. Howorth, bestowed to the citizens of Mississippi as Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit Court District of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the distinguished career and meritorious leadership and service that the Honorable Judge Andrew K. Howorth provided as the Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit Court District of Mississippi upon the occasion of his retirement, and extend sincere wishes for continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Judge Andrew K. Howorth and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.