[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF JOHN STUART BRUCE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE HOLDING

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2018

  Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Stuart Bruce of 
Raleigh, North Carolina.
   John Bruce was born in Winston-Salem and grew up in Raleigh. He 
attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 
1975. John then chose to pursue law school, also at UNC, where he 
graduated in 1978.
   Mr. Speaker, after practicing with a Raleigh law firm for about four 
years, John decided to enter public service with the U.S. Department of 
Justice. He was appointed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern 
District of North Carolina on April 18, 1983, and excelled at his job.
   John received two Director's Awards from DOJ; one in 2002 for 
superior performance in a managerial role, and another in 2004 for 
superior performance as an Assistant United States Attorney for his 
work on a prosecution that was called at the time the most successful 
public corruption case in North Carolina history. This case resulted in 
the conviction of the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture and 
four of her top aides for multiple felonies associated with their 
corrupt activities, including extortion under color of official right, 
mail and wire fraud, and obstruction of justice. The North Carolina Bar 
Association also recognized John that year with an award as the 
Outstanding Public Sector Attorney.
   Mr. Speaker, when my nomination to serve as U.S. Attorney in the 
Eastern District of North Carolina was confirmed by the Senate in 2006, 
I selected John to serve as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, working as 
second-in-command during my five years as U.S. Attorney. His 
professionalism, integrity, and experience were invaluable as we 
prosecuted drug trafficking, public corruption, and terrorism cases all 
across Eastern North Carolina.
   Mr. Speaker, John Stuart Bruce twice served as U.S. Attorney for the 
EDNC on an interim basis; first, for a year prior to the confirmation 
of Frank D. Whitney as U.S. Attorney in 2002, and most recently for 21 
months prior to Robert J. Higdon, Jr. taking the oath of office to 
become the United States Attorney for the Eastern District on October 
10, 2017.
   Following 34 years of government service, John recently retired on 
February 9, 2018.
   I will always consider John a valued colleague and a friend from our 
time together in the U.S. Attorney's office. I wish him well in his 
retirement and any future endeavors.

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