Bill Text: MS SC509 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognize the service of retiring Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann Lamar of Senatobia, Mississippi.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-01-31 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC509 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-SC509-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Tollison
Senate Concurrent Resolution 509
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF MISSISSIPPI SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANN H. LAMAR OF SENATOBIA AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2016 CHIEF JUSTICE AWARD AND ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT FROM THE COURT.
WHEREAS, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann H. Lamar of Senatobia, Mississippi, is the recipient of this year's Chief Justice Award as she prepares to retire. Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller, Jr., presented the award on July 16, 2016, during The Mississippi Bar Convention in Destin, Florida. The annual award recognizes an individual whose work has significantly improved the judicial system; and
WHEREAS, Justice Lamar was honored for 32 years of exemplary public service, including nine years on the Supreme Court. She is the third woman to serve on the State Supreme Court. She previously served for 5-1/2 years as Circuit Court Judge of the 17th District, two years as District Attorney and nine years as Assistant District Attorney. The 17th District is made up of DeSoto, Tate, Panola, Yalobusha and Tallahatchie Counties. Before she earned a law degree, she worked for two years as a Court Reporter in Chancery Court, and four years as Administrative Assistant in the Governor's Office of Education and Training; and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice Waller said that in addition to her exemplary work on cases appealed to the Supreme Court, Justice Lamar provided outstanding leadership of the Supreme Court Rules Committee on Criminal Practice and Procedure. Since 2012, the Rules Committee has devoted extensive study to proposed Rules of Criminal Procedure. When completed, the Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure will address every aspect of criminal proceedings from the initiation of criminal charges through post-trial motions. The uniform rules will govern criminal procedures in Justice, Municipal, County and Circuit Courts; and
WHEREAS, Justice Lamar's background as a former Circuit Court Judge and Prosecutor made her ideally suited to lead this comprehensive review of the rules which govern every stage of proceedings in criminal prosecutions. She devoted hours of work each week to this extensive study; and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice Waller said that Justice Lamar also provided exceptional leadership in the vital task of judicial education. Justice Lamar is Chair of the Board of Governors of the Mississippi Judicial College. The Board of Governors directs policy and curriculum for the Judicial College, which is responsible for providing continuing education training for Supreme Court justices; Court of Appeals judges; Chancery, Circuit, County, Justice and Municipal Court judges; Youth Court judges and referees; and court administrators, court clerks and court reporters. In 2008, Justice Lamar served as Co-Chair of the Commission for the Study of Domestic Abuse Proceedings. The commission made recommendations to improve access of victims to the courts and promote understanding of and uniformity in proceedings and pleadings involving domestic abuse. She served the Conference of Circuit Court Judges as Chair in 2006-2007, Vice Chair in 2005-2006, and Treasurer for three years. She is a member and past President of the William C. Keady American Inns of Court. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Prosecutors Association; and
WHEREAS, Justice Lamar was appointed to the Supreme Court on May 21, 2007, and was elected to an eight-year term in November 2008. She did not seek reelection this year. She will retire from the court on December 31, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Justice Lamar is the daughter of Bobbie Jean Hannaford and the late Chancery Judge Leon E. Hannaford, Sr. She and her husband have two adult children and three grandchildren. Justice Lamar's grandchildren may enjoy having her with them more often when her retirement from the Mississippi Supreme Court begins in 2017; and
WHEREAS, Justice Lamar served as a leader and mentor, consistently lecturing on professional standards of the legal practice, including ethics integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule. Justice Lamar's service honored both The Mississippi Bar and this great state that she 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 join the Mississippi Supreme Court in honoring the professional and public service of Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Ann H. Lamar of Senatobia, Mississippi, as the recipient of the 2016 Chief Justice Award and on the occasion of her retirement from the court, and extend to Justice Lamar and her family our best wishes for continued success and service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Justice Ann Lamar and her family, forwarded to the Mississippi Supreme Court and The Mississippi Bar, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
