Bill Text: GA SR1043 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Sweet, John; recognize
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-02-24 - Senate Read and Adopted [SR1043 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SR1043-Enrolled.html
12 LC 93
0967
Senate
Resolution 1043
By:
Senators Orrock of the 36th, Fort of the 39th, Henson of the 41st, Carter of the
42nd, Tate of the 38th and others
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending John Sweet for being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award
by the State Bar of Georgia and the Chief Justice's Commission on
Professionalism; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
John Sweet has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the vital
role that he has played in leadership and his deep personal commitment to the
welfare of the citizens of Georgia, and he is being honored with the Lifetime
Achievement Award by the State Bar of Georgia and the Chief Justice's Commission
on Professionalism on February 28, 2012; and
WHEREAS,
John Sweet's service in Georgia began with his arrival in Atlanta as a Volunteer
in Service to America (VISTA) volunteer in 1968; and
WHEREAS,
he attained his law degree from the Atlanta Law School and began practicing on
July 1, 1975, and has since donated countless hours of legal work to important
legal issues of our time, representing pro bono over 200 survivors of domestic
violence and serving as the first attorney of record of plaintiffs in
Bowers v.
Hardwick, which created the initial legal
headwinds that culminated 17 years later in the Supreme Court's decision in
Lawrence v.
Texas (2003); and
WHEREAS,
he seeks to ensure that the most vulnerable and poorest members of the
community, whether they be homeless, incarcerated, abused, or simply poor,
receive representation; and
WHEREAS,
John Sweet has actively served his community as a member of the Atlanta City
Council, on the board of the Atlanta Housing Authority, and as a representative
on the executive committee of EarthShare; chaired the Metro Fair Housing
Services board, the Workers' Compensation Section of the State Bar Association,
and the Executive Committee of the Workers' Compensation Claimants' Lawyers
Section of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association; cofounded Georgia Conservation
Voters and the BOND Community Federal Credit Union; and was a supporter of the
Sierra Club in its fight to stop new coal plants from polluting Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
he devoted extraordinary time and energy to Georgia's environmental movement
through service as a visionary leader and chair for ten years of GreenLaw;
and
WHEREAS,
deeply committed to youth, John Sweet launched the Atlanta Youth Soccer
Association and Phoenix Youth Soccer Association to serve thousands of children
in the absence of in-town youth soccer leagues, recruiting parent coaches,
securing and clearing fields, as well as coaching and refereeing himself;
and
WHEREAS,
his labors speak volumes about his extraordinary generosity of spirit, his
vision of institution-building in service of the community, and his willingness
to contribute his time and talent for the greater good; and
WHEREAS,
it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this
remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize
John Sweet for his efficient, effective, unselfish, and dedicated public service
over the last 40 years to the State of Georgia and commend him for being honored
with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the State Bar of Georgia and the Chief
Justice's Commission on Professionalism.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to John Sweet.
