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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.4675 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:20000224 Primary Sponsor:Harrison All Sponsors:Harrison, Wilkins, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, Bailey, Bales, Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, Campsen, Canty, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, Emory, Fleming, Frye, Gamble, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, Harris, Harvin, Haskins, Hawkins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Inabinett, Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Lanford, Law, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Maddox, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McKay, M. McLeod, W. McLeod, McMahand, Meacham- Richardson, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinckney, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Riser, Robinson, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen, Simrill, F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith, D. Smith, Stille, Stuart, Taylor, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, Wilkes, Witherspoon, Woodrum and Young-Brickell Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\skb\18213som00.doc Date Bill Passed both Bodies:20000301 Subject:Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr., Resolutions History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 20000301 Received from Senate Senate 20000229 Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence House 20000224 Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate Versions of This Bill
TO COMMEND AND HONOR CHIEF JUSTICE ERNEST A. FINNEY, JR., UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM AN EXEMPLARY CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, A CAREER WHICH INCLUDED SERVICE AS A LEGISLATOR, A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, AN ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, AND NOW, AS ITS CHIEF JUSTICE; TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT ROLE HE HAS PLAYED IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S HISTORY LEADING THE WAY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS SERVING IN PUBLIC LIFE IN THIS STATE; TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS LIFE-LONG WORK AND DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE LIVES AND WELL-BEING OF ALL CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE; AND TO FURTHER WISH HIM GODSPEED IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, Ernest A. Finney, Jr., was born in Smithfield, Virginia, on March 29, 1931, to the late Ernest A. and Collen Godwin Finney and received his secondary education in the public schools of Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. He graduated cum laude from Claflin College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, and earned his Juris Doctor Degree from South Carolina State University School of Law; and
Whereas, he is married to the former Frances Davenport of Newberry. They have a daughter, Nikky Lynn, a professor at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky; two sons, Ernest III (Chip) and Jerry Leo, both of whom are lawyers in South Carolina; and two granddaughters, Amanda Catherine and Felicia Victoria; and
Whereas, Chief Justice Finney's career began in 1954 as a part-time lawyer and schoolteacher. He practiced law from 1955 to 1976 and earned the respect of the citizens of Sumter, as well as that of the entire State for his civil rights work and his strong work ethic. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1972 to 1976 as one of the first African-American legislators to serve in the General Assembly in the twentieth century. He founded the Legislative Black Caucus and served as its first chairman. He was elected Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit in 1976 becoming the state's first African-American circuit judge. He was elected associate justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1985, again the first African-American to sit on the state's highest court in the twentieth century. On May 11, 1994, he was elected Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, the first African-American to serve as Chief Justice. He assumed this esteemed office on December 17, 1994; and
Whereas, the Chief Justice has been involved with numerous civic, educational, and professional organizations and is a member of the Bar associations on the local, state, and national levels. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Buena Vista Development Corporation, and serves on the Clafin College Board of Trustees, the University of South Carolina School of Law Minority Advisory Committee, is a past member of the Legal Responsibilities Committee of the United Methodist Church General Council on Finance and Administration, and a life member of the NAACP; and
Whereas, Chief Justice Finney is also affiliated with Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Masons and the Shriners. He is a member of the Emmanuel United Methodist Church; and
Whereas, he has been awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the College of Charleston, Johnson C. Smith University, The Citadel, Claflin College, the University of South Carolina (Coastal Carolina College), Morris College, and South Carolina State University. He was honored in November, 1999, by being named the 1999 Public Servant of the Year at the Twentieth Annual Business Summit of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce; and
Whereas, the State has benefited in many ways because of Chief Justice Finney's twenty-four years of service to the public and the legal community. He is respected and admired by his colleagues who have publicly called him a "giant of the judicial system in South Carolina", and a "clarion voice for justice for all". Chief Justice Finney's career has been one that he can personally be proud to reflect on in the years to come. And, truly, it has been one that has changed the course of the state's history for the better. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly commend and honor Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr., upon his retirement from an exemplary career of public service, a career which included service as a legislator, a circuit court judge, an associate justice of the Supreme Court, and now, as its Chief Justice; recognize the important role he has played in South Carolina's history leading the way for African-Americans serving in public life in this State; commend him for his life-long work and dedication to improving the lives and well-being of all citizens of this great State, and wish him Godspeed in all of his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr.
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