HJ120: Commending civil servants in Virginia's court system.
WHEREAS, access to justice is a fundamental and essential right in a democratic society, and such access is entirely dependent on a well-functioning court system and the dedicated professionals thereof; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s court system depends on the presence, dedication, and expertise of a multitude of civil servants, including clerks, deputy clerks, judges, judicial assistants, guardians ad litem, speech and language interpreters, magistrates, sheriffs, sheriff’s deputies, court reporters, and other staff members; and
WHEREAS, among their many duties, these civil servants provide security for Virginia’s courthouses, conduct hearings, trials, and other judicial proceedings, or provide critical support for such proceedings; and
WHEREAS, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, civil servants in Virginia’s court system have interacted with lawyers, litigants, witnesses, members of the public, incarcerated individuals, and other people involved in the justice system, exposing these civil servants to a greater risk of contracting the virus; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding that increased risk to their health and the health of their families, civil servants in Virginia’s court system have continued to make the personal sacrifices necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth’s courts remain open and operate efficiently, ensuring access to justice for all Virginians; and
WHEREAS, thanks to the hard work of civil servants in Virginia’s court system, access to justice has been preserved and maintained in the Commonwealth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend civil servants in Virginia’s court system for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Access to Justice Commission, on behalf of all civil servants in Virginia’s court system, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for their personal sacrifices and commitment to professionalism.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 120
WHEREAS, access to justice is a fundamental and essential right in a democratic society, and such access is entirely dependent on a well-functioning court system and the dedicated professionals thereof; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s court system depends on the presence, dedication, and expertise of a multitude of civil servants, including clerks, deputy clerks, judges, judicial assistants, guardians ad litem, speech and language interpreters, magistrates, sheriff’s, sheriff’s deputies, court reporters, and other staff members; and
WHEREAS, among their many duties, these civil servants provide security for Virginia’s courthouses, conduct hearings, trials, and other judicial proceedings, or provide critical support for such proceedings; and
WHEREAS, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, civil servants in Virginia’s court system have interacted with lawyers, litigants, witnesses, members of the public, incarcerated individuals, and other people involved in the justice system, exposing these civil servants to a greater risk of contracting the virus; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding that increased risk to their health and the health of their families, civil servants in Virginia’s court system have continued to make the personal sacrifices necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth’s courts remain open and operate efficiently, ensuring access to justice for all Virginians; and
WHEREAS, thanks to the hard work of civil servants in Virginia’s court system, access to justice has been preserved and maintained in the Commonwealth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend civil servants in Virginia’s court system for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Access to Justice Commission, on behalf of all civil servants in Virginia’s court system, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for their personal sacrifices and commitment to professionalism.