08 LC 34
1642
House
Resolution 1411
By:
Representatives Murphy of the
120th,
James of the
135th,
Frazier of the
123rd,
Howard of the
121st,
Davis of the
122nd,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
Court of Appeals Judge John H. Ruffin, Jr., for his outstanding career and
service to the State of Georgia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Judge John H. Ruffin, Jr. became the 62nd Judge of the Court of Appeals of
Georgia when he was administered the oath of office by Governor Zell Miller on
August 24, 1994, after 33 years of practicing law and serving on the superior
court bench; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Ruffin was born and reared in Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia, the son
of John H. Ruffin, Sr. and Anna Davis Ruffin and he is a graduate of Waynesboro
High and Industrial School, Morehouse College, and Howard University School of
Law in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS,
he was admitted to the Georgia Bar on July 5, 1961; and
WHEREAS,
he was appointed a Superior Court Judge of the Augusta Judicial Circuit in 1986
by Governor Joe Frank Harris and he continued to serve as a superior court judge
until his appointment to the Court of Appeals; and
WHEREAS,
in addition to being the first African-American Superior Court Judge for the
Augusta Judicial Circuit, Judge Ruffin was also the first African-American
member of the Augusta Bar Association, and the third African-American and first
African-American Chief Judge to serve on the Court of Appeals of Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
in addition to his membership in the State Bar of Georgia, Judge Ruffin is a
member of the bars of the Supreme Court of Georgia, United States Supreme Court,
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and United States
District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
Judge Ruffin has many current and former professional, civic and religious
affiliations, including: Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia; Council of
Juvenile Court Judges of Georgia; Tenth Judicial Administrative District;
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Institute of Continuing Judicial Education; Georgia
Commission on Gender Bias; Court Reform Committee, Governor´s Conference on
Justice in Georgia; Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Georgia
Advisory Council to the Legal Services Program; Judicial Nominating Commission;
Georgia Conference of Black Lawyers, Inc.; State Bar Judicial Compensation
Committee; American Judicature Society; National Bar Association; American Bar
Association; Augusta Bar Association; and the Atlanta Bar Association;
and
WHEREAS,
he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Council of Superior Court Judges and
was on track to become the first African-American to serve as President of the
Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia prior to his appointment to the
Court of Appeals; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Ruffin and his beautiful wife, Judith, have one son, Brinkley, and two
grandsons, Bryson and Myles; and
WHEREAS,
Judge Ruffin and his family are members of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in
Augusta.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body honor the outstanding career and many accomplishments of Judge John H.
Ruffin, Jr., and wish him many more years of good health and further
success.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Judge John H.
Ruffin, Jr.