[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 105 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1566-E1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING JUDGE JIMMY MATTHEWS-------

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LINCOLN DAVIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, as Congress debates issues of 
vital importance to our Nation's education and defense, I would like to 
take a few minutes to say thank you to a well respected individual in 
the 4th District of Tennessee.
  After spending over thirty plus years on the bench, as a General 
Sessions Part I Judge, Judge Jimmy Matthews decided to retire due to 
deteriorating health. Judge Matthews, a life-long resident of Maury 
County, Tennessee, will be sorely missed for his wisdom, courage, and 
determination to effectively serve the law and all it protects.
  Matthews was Maury County's first lay judge and will be its last (a 
lay judge does not

[[Page E1567]]

hold a law degree). State law now requires all new judges to hold law 
degrees. To hold the position of judge without a law degree, while not 
unheard of is admirable and further demonstrates Matthews understanding 
and knowledge of the law.
  It has been estimated that Judge Matthews along with his counterpart 
have overseen as many as 20,000 cases a year. His court has the 
responsibility of clearing these cases in a timely and efficient 
manner. Not an easy task, but Judge Matthew seemed to do it time and 
again.
  Maury County and the American judicial system will never fail to 
notice the work of Judge Matthews. May God Bless Judge Matthews on his 
new journey.

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