HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 83 Offered January 11, 2006 Prefiled January 10, 2006 Celebrating the life of Judge James Harry Michael, Jr. ---------- Patrons-- Ware, O. and Fralin ----------

WHEREAS, Judge James Harry Michael, Jr., an admired and respected United States District Court judge and former state senator, died on August 29, 2005; and

WHEREAS, a native of Charlottesville, J. Harry Michael was born on October 17, 1918, graduated from Lane High School, earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, and received a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law; and

WHEREAS, J. Harry Michael served his country in the United States Navy in World War II as an officer on a destroyer in the Southwest Pacific, then served in the Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of commander; and

WHEREAS, after the war, J. Harry Michael returned to his hometown of Charlottesville and a private practice of law; and

WHEREAS, in 1967 J. Harry Michael was elected to the Senate of Virginia where he served until appointed to the bench; and

WHEREAS, Senator Michael sponsored important legislation for the citizens of Virginia and served on numerous committees, including Senate Finance, Commerce and Labor, Courts of Justice, Rules, Education and Health, and also served on the Code Commission; and

WHEREAS, revered as a superb leader and experienced legislator, Senator Michael chaired the Council of State Governments in 1975; and

WHEREAS, in 1980 Senator Michael was appointed to the federal bench as United States District Judge for the Western District, a position he held for 25 years until his death; and

WHEREAS, Judge Michael sat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and one of his favorite judicial duties was administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens at Monticello each July; and

WHEREAS, Judge Michael was a cofounder of the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad, a founding member of the local United States Naval Reserve and the Navy League, and he served on the Charlottesville Public School Board from 1951-1962 and on the boards of the Church Schools of the Diocese of Virginia and the University of Virginia Medical School Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Judge Michael fervently believed in the jury system and treated every individual he met with respect and will be remembered for his dignified bearing on the bench, his extremely dry sense of humor, and his fair and generous nature; and

WHEREAS, Judge Michael will be missed by his family, his numerous friends and colleagues, the congregation of  Christ Episcopal Church and the citizens of the City of Charlottesville; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a committed public servant and outstanding Virginian, Judge James Harry Michael, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Judge James Harry Michael, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.