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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed jurist, a trusted mentor, |
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and a true friend drew to a close with the passing of U.S. District |
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Judge Edward Huggins Johnstone of Louisville, Kentucky, on June 26, |
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2013, at the age of 91; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of William and Katherine Johnstone, Ed |
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Johnstone was born on April 26, 1922, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, while |
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his parents were in the country for agricultural business; he grew |
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up in Paducah and graduated from Lafayette High School in |
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Lexington, where he enrolled at the University of Kentucky; soon |
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into his undergraduate career, he was called into combat during |
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World War II; he went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, and for |
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his courageous efforts, he was awarded a Bronze Star and a Silver |
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Star; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to Lexington and the university, he |
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completed his bachelor's degree and subsequently earned his juris |
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doctorate; during this time, he exchanged wedding vows with the |
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former Katherine Guion, with whom he shared in the joy of raising |
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four children, Anne, Bill, Mary, and Fraser; together, the two |
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moved to western Kentucky in 1949 and settled in Princeton, where |
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Mr. Johnstone would practice law for more than a quarter-century; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 1976, he was appointed judge of the 56th Judicial |
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Circuit, encompassing a four-county area; he spent only a year in |
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that post when, in 1977, he was selected to become U.S. District |
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Judge for the Western District of Kentucky in Paducah; and |
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WHEREAS, In his 30 years on the bench, Judge Johnstone |
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presided over a number of high-profile court cases, including one |
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concerning the treatment of the incarcerated; during that case, he |
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visited several penitentiaries unannounced in order to personally |
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assess their conditions; a local newspaper reported on one visit, |
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in which he climbed through a hole in a cell's wall undeterred by |
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the pool of ankle-deep raw sewage on the other side, a feat of |
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boldness that drew applause from the inmates; his ruling ultimately |
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set a standard for prisoner class action litigation and led to |
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sweeping reforms of the state prison system; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Johnstone believed that all persons were |
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entitled to dignity and showed the same respect for everyone who |
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entered his courtroom; highly regarded for his integrity and |
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evenhandedness, he remained humble and self-effacing, allowing his |
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actions to speak for his character; over the years, he also went out |
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of his way to offer friendship and guidance to other individuals in |
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the legal profession; and |
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WHEREAS, His tireless work ethic earned him the distinction |
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of closing more criminal cases than any other judge in his district, |
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a record he maintained even after taking senior status in 1993; he |
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gave up the criminal docket in 2006 because of an increasing hearing |
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loss, but continued to handle social security disability appeals |
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for another five years; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout a truly exemplary career, Judge Ed |
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Johnstone contributed immeasurably to his fellow citizens and to |
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his peers in the field of law, and he leaves behind a legacy of |
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compassion, wisdom, and understanding that will never be forgotten; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Edward Huggins Johnstone and extend sincere sympathy to the members |
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of his family: to his wife, Katherine Guion Johnstone; to his |
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sister, Katherine Elliott; to his brother, Robert Johnstone; to his |
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children, Anne Dill and her husband, Gerry, Bill Johnstone and his |
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wife, Karen Newman, Mary Pepper Woolwine and her husband, George, |
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and Fraser Johnstone and his wife, Tammy; to his grandchildren, Jed |
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English, Morgan Newman Armstrong, Guion Johnstone, Will English, |
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Conrad Newman, Chlodys Johnstone, and Stuart Dill; to his |
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great-grandchildren, Sara Jo and Aubrey Kathryn Armstrong; and to |
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his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of the |
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Honorable Edward Huggins Johnstone. |