HR0930 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0930 LRB101 22937 MST 74035 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Johnson County Circuit Court Judge James R. Williamson on the occasion of his retirement after 45 years of public service; and

WHEREAS, Judge Williamson graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1975 and had been a lawyer for less than two years when he was elected state's attorney of Johnson County at the age of 30; he served as state's attorney from 1976 to 1978; and

WHEREAS, Less than two years later, Judge Williamson was elected as a circuit court judge for Johnson County; he began his career as a judge on December 4, 1978 and has held that position through 2020; he has presided over trials in all nine counties of the 1st Judicial Circuit and has served as its chief judge since 2014; he is currently the longest-serving circuit judge on the bench; and

WHEREAS, Judge Williamson is especially known for his willingness to make decisions impartially, which has become a distinguishing mark of his career; he is also known as a judge who is honest, fair, hard-working, and straightforward; and

WHEREAS, Judge Williamson is a member of the Illinois Bar Foundation, the Illinois Judges Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Johnson County Circuit Court Judge James R. Williamson on his retirement after 45 years of public service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Judge Williamson as a symbol of our respect and esteem.