MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Blount, Wiggins, England, Barnett, Branning, Brumfield, Frazier, Hopson, Horhn, Michel, Parker, Thomas, Whaley
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE SINCEREST SYMPATHY OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY OF FORMER MISSISSIPPI SENATOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND RESPECTED TRIAL LAWYER JOHN G. CORLEW OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AND COMMENDING HIS SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY AND HIS STATE.
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of former State Senator John G. Corlew on December 6, 2023; and
WHEREAS, John's colorful life began on July 13, 1943, in Dyersburg, Tennessee. At an early age, he moved with his family to Pascagoula, Mississippi, where he spent a happy childhood with his brother and a fun-loving group of Jackson County friends. John's brilliant intellect and strong work ethic earned him a four-year scholarship to Ole Miss. He graduated with a Journalism degree in 1964 after a memorable college career full of accolades and leadership roles. He served as Editor of the Daily Mississippian. In that role and also on behalf of the Associated Press, he covered pivotal events in the state's Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s. He was a lifetime devoted member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. His first political campaign, which he won, was for Student Body President at Ole Miss. He was later named to the Ole Miss Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, John returned to Tennessee to attend Vanderbilt University Law School, where he graduated as one of the top two students in his class. He was Managing Editor of the Law Review in 1967-1968. In 1967, he married Lee Scott, whom he had met at Ole Miss. After law school, John returned home to Mississippi. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Walter Nixon in 1968-1969, and joined the law firm of Megehee, Brown, and Williams in 1970 and eventually became a senior partner at Corlew, Krebs and Hammond. John was active in local civic and community life through the Jaycees and the Methodist Church. He quickly became the go-to lawyer for major industries on the coast and nationwide; and
WHEREAS, in 1974, Jackson County elected John to the Mississippi Senate. He served in the Legislature from 1974-1980. It was an important time of legislative progress, and despite his young age, he was an important player. He and a group of other young progressive legislators, with help from allies like Lieutenant Governor "Miss Evelyn" Gandy, organized to pass significant legislation which permanently reformed and modernized Mississippi law. They steered passage of Open Meetings, Open Records and other laws which increased transparency and public access to public proceedings. John presided as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee in 1979, served on the Legislative Audit Committee in 1978, and the Constitution Committee from 1975 to 1979. Appointed by Governor Winter, Senator Corlew served as Chairman of the State Board of Public Welfare from 1980 to 1984; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, Jackson lawyer Bill Goodman persuaded John and Lee to move to Jackson so John could join Bill at the Watkins & Eager law firm. John was a leading partner there until 2009 when he again established a small independent firm, Corlew, Munford & Smith. He continued there until 2021, when he joined the Oxford-based law firm of Mayo Mallette until his retirement; and
WHEREAS, John's professional accolades were many. He was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Mississippi Bar Foundation. He was a member of the Order of the Coif, an honor society for United States law school graduates. He received the Professionalism Award from the Hinds County Bar Association in 2007, and also from the Mississippi Bar Foundation in 2013. He was a Member of the Charles Clark Inns of Court. John was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for bet-the-company litigation and his commercial, mass tort, environmental, and banking and finance litigation work. He was also listed as one of Mississippi's top 50 lawyers by Mid-South Super Lawyers and was recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer for commercial litigation and environmental work; and
WHEREAS, Senator Corlew was the author of two books on Mississippi trial practice: The Mississippi Jury: Law and Practice and Damages Law for Mississippi Trial Practice. John also served on the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 2001 to 2004, the Governor's Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee from 2004 to 2012, and the Committee on Judicial Elections Campaign Intervention from 2014 to 2015; and
WHEREAS, John was a passionate sports fan, especially soccer in recent years. He took his family to Europe for the World Cup soccer games in 2006 and was a devoted fan of professional soccer. He coached each of his children's soccer, basketball, and softball teams and maintained relationships with many of those young players as they grew up and faced adult challenges; and
WHEREAS, while John loved the practice of law and his other professional endeavors, he considered his greatest achievement to be his family. His marriage to Lee lasted until his death and together they raised three children, all of whom survive him: Scott Corlew (Melanie); Heath Corlew; and Carey Bhalla (Sonu). Other survivors are John's five beloved grandchildren: Jac, Meg, Ann Scott, Latham and Emily. He was immensely proud of all of them, and their adventures supplied him with fresh stories to tell his friends; and
WHEREAS, John served as a leader and mentor. He consistently lectured on professional standards of the practice, including ethics, integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule. He advised his colleagues: "One only has so many points of Personal Privilege, use them wisely." John's life honored both The Mississippi Bar and this great state that he loved and served:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby extend the sincerest sympathy of the Mississippi Senate to the surviving family of former Mississippi Senator, Chairman of the State Board of Public Welfare and respected trial Lawyer John G. Corlew of Jackson County, Mississippi, and commend his service to his community and his state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of former Senator John G. Corlew, forwarded to The Mississippi Bar, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.