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2013 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 793
Commending the Honorable William D. Heatwole.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 1, 2013
Agreed to by the Senate, February 7, 2013

 

WHEREAS, the Honorable William D. Heatwole, a respected jurist for the 25th and 26th Judicial Districts of Virginia, retired in 2012 after 20 years of distinguished service to the residents of the Cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro and the Counties of Augusta and Rockingham; and

WHEREAS, a native of Harrisonburg, William “Bill” Heatwole graduated from Harrisonburg High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon College, and received a law degree from the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law; and

WHEREAS, known for his knowledge of the law and dedication to his clients, Bill Heatwole spent more than a decade in private practice at Franklin, Franklin, Denney, Heatwole, and Ward before his appointment in 1993 as a district court judge; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure, Judge Heatwole presided with great wisdom and fairness over a variety of cases while making many contributions to Virginia’s judicial system, his profession, and the community; and

WHEREAS, Judge Heatwole helped create and maintain one of only two DUI courts in Virginia, served on the Department of Criminal Justice Services Victims’ Rights Implementation Advisory Committee, and as a member of the regional Lawyers Helping Lawyers Advisory Board and the Blue Ridge Criminal Justice Board; and

WHEREAS, Judge Heatwole shared his insights and experiences with newly appointed judges as a mentor in the Commonwealth’s Judicial Mentoring Program and participated with the Washington and Lee University School of Law Judicial Intern Clinic and the University of Virginia School of Law Prosecution Clinic; and

WHEREAS, Judge Heatwole generously gave of his time and talents as a board member of the Randolph-Macon College Society of Alumni and local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and as president of the Waynesboro Lions Club; and

WHEREAS, an innovative and admired judge committed to the fair dispensation of justice, Judge Heatwole faithfully served the residents of the Commonwealth for two decades; and

WHEREAS, Judge Heatwole looks forward to continuing to serve the Commonwealth as needed in retirement while also pursuing his interests in hunting and fishing; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Honorable William D. Heatwole for his dedication to Virginia’s judicial system on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Honorable William D. Heatwole as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for his commitment to justice and public service.