[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1087 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 1087

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        March 10, 2010.
Whereas Jack Ruffin left a lasting impact on his State and the United States 
        during his distinguished legal career as a civil rights attorney and as 
        the first African-American chief judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals;
Whereas Jack Ruffin was born in the rural town of Waynesboro, Georgia, in 1934, 
        where he spent his formative years and where today his portrait hangs in 
        the Burke County Courthouse;
Whereas Jack Ruffin graduated from Morehouse College in 1957 and from Howard 
        University School of Law in 1960;
Whereas Jack Ruffin became, in 1961, the first African-American admitted to the 
        Augusta Bar Association, against the wishes of his mother who feared for 
        his safety;
Whereas Jack Ruffin fought with great courage against injustices in his 
        community throughout his life, most notably when he filed the lawsuits 
        that desegregated the public school systems of Richmond County and of 
        Burke County;
Whereas Jack Ruffin honorably served, from 1986 to 1994, as the first African-
        American Superior Court judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit;
Whereas Jack Ruffin, having been appointed by Governor Zell Miller to the 
        Georgia Court of Appeals in 1994, honorably served as a member of that 
        Court until 2008;
Whereas Jack Ruffin became the first African-American Chief Judge of the Georgia 
        Court of Appeals in 2005 and served honorably in that position until 
        2006;
Whereas the new Richmond County judicial center in Augusta, Georgia, will be 
        named in Jack Ruffin's honor, a decision made by the Augusta-Richmond 
        County Commission in 2009;
Whereas Jack Ruffin retired from the Georgia Court of Appeals in 2008 and spent 
        the rest of his life giving back to his community by teaching students 
        at his alma mater, Morehouse College;
Whereas Jack Ruffin died the night of January 29, 2010, at the age of 75, in 
        Atlanta, Georgia, and is survived by his wife, Judith Ruffin, his 
        father, John Ruffin, Sr., his son, Brinkley Ruffin, and two grandsons;
Whereas the passing of Jack Ruffin is a great loss to the legal community and to 
        the State of Georgia, and his life should be honored with great praise 
        and appreciation for the many contributions he made to the legal system 
        in the United States and to the civil rights movement; and
Whereas it is the intent of the House of Representatives to recognize and pay 
        tribute to the life of Jack Ruffin, his achievements for civil rights, 
        his zeal for justice, and his passion for the law: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes Jack Ruffin as a great jurist in the State of Georgia 
        and as an important figure in the civil rights movement; and
            (2) recognizes the selfless and brave contributions that Jack Ruffin 
        made to his community and to the law.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.