MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Deweese, Beckett

House Resolution 99

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE DISTINGUISHED LEGAL CAREER AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF THIRD DISTRICT CIRCUIT JUDGE JOHN A. GREGORY, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

     WHEREAS, we join The Mississippi Bar and the citizens of the Third Circuit Court District in honoring the exceptional judicial service of Judge John A. Gregory of Okolona, Mississippi, upon the occasion of his retirement after 43 years of dedicated public service; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Gregory announced that he will retire on June 30, 2020, and since January 2011, he has diligently served the citizens of the Third District, which encompasses Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union Counties; and

     WHEREAS, a graduate of Okolona High School, Judge Gregory attended the University of Mississippi, where he played football, and he earned his law degree from the former Jackson School of Law, now Mississippi College School of Law; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Gregory began his legal career as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Stokes V. Robertson, and afterwards was an Assistant District Attorney for the Third Circuit District for nine years, was elected for six terms and served 23 years as Chickasaw County Prosecuting Attorney, served as attorney for the Okolona Municipal Separate School District for 23 years, served as Board Attorney for the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors for 19 years and served as Okolona City Attorney for 15 years; and  

     WHEREAS, tremendously involved in his community, 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, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Judge Gregory, who 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, and whose extraordinary judicial service honors both The Mississippi Bar, his community and the State of Mississippi:     

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend the distinguished legal career and public service of Third District Circuit Court Judge John A. Gregory upon the occasion of his retirement and extend best wishes to him in his lighter days ahead.

     Be it further resolved, that copies of this resolution be furnished to Judge Gregory, the Mississippi Conference of Circuit Court Judges, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.