Bill Text: MS SC648 | 2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 648 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Recognize distinguished legal career of 8th Circuit Court District Judge Marcus D. Gordon on the occasion of his retirement.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-04-14 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC648 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2016-SC648-Enrolled.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Burton, Branning, Carmichael, Hopson, Jackson (32nd)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 648

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED LEGAL CAREER OF 8TH CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT JUDGE MARCUS D. GORDON, MISSISSIPPI'S LONGEST-SERVING TRIAL COURT JUDGE, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, we join The Mississippi Bar and the legal community of Newton County in honoring the distinguished career of Mississippi 8th Circuit Court District Judge Marcus D. Gordon; and

WHEREAS, a Newton County native, Gordon grew up near the Neshoba County line and has always claimed kinship with the neighboring county where his mother was born. Following graduation from Union High School in 1950, Judge Gordon embarked on a career at East Central Community College as an athlete. After a semester, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. With four years of service under his belt as an enlisted man, Gordon was honorably discharged in 1954 and pondered a career in law. He returned to East Central Community College and at 21 enrolled in the University of Mississippi and received his Bachelor's degree and later his law degree in 1959; and

WHEREAS, he entered private practice in Decatur with his older brother, Rex, and practiced with the Gordon Law Firm from 1959 through 1977 with offices in Decatur and Union. His extensive record of public legal service is as follows: Attorney for the City of Union, Fall 1959 through March 1977; Attorney for the Union Special Municipal Separate School District, Fall 1959 through March 1977; Newton County Prosecuting Attorney, 1964-1968; District Attorney for the Eighth Circuit Court District (Leake, Neshoba, Newton and Scott Counties), January 1972 through March 1977; Attorney for the Newton County Board of Supervisors (various time periods); and Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit Court District (Leake, Neshoba, Newton and Scott Counties), March 1977 through March 2016; and

WHEREAS, Judge Gordon is the longest-serving Trial Judge in the history of the State of Mississippi, serving for 37 years, 1977 through 2016, and kept one of the best Trial Judge records in the state; and

WHEREAS, Judge Gordon served as a leader and mentor to practicing attorneys. He consistently lectured on professional standards of the practice of law, including ethics, integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule. His public service has honored both The Mississippi Bar and this great state that he has served:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the distinguished legal career of 8th Circuit Court District Judge Marcus D. Gordon, Mississippi's longest-serving Trial Court Judge, on the occasion of his retirement, and extend our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Judge Gordon and his family at ceremonies at the American Legion Hut in Decatur, Mississippi, on April 16, 2016, forwarded to The Mississippi Bar, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.