SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1999 SESSION

995013661
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 263
Offered January 13, 1999
Prefiled November 18, 1998
On the death of Russell M. Carneal.
----------
Patrons-- Gartlan and Reasor; Delegates: DeBoer and Murphy
----------

WHEREAS, Russell M. Carneal of Williamsburg, a member of the Virginia Code Commission, a former circuit court judge, and a former member of the House of Delegates, died on July 27, 1998; and

WHEREAS, a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, Russell Carneal earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia and founded the law firm of Carneal and Smith with the late A. B. Smith, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, in 1953, Russell Carneal was elected to the House of Delegates, representing the citizens of York and James City Counties and the City of Williamsburg with great distinction and dedication for more than two decades; and

WHEREAS, a highly respected and influential legislator, Russell Carneal served as chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee and the House Committee on Welfare; and

WHEREAS, among his many legislative accomplishments, Russell Carneal was instrumental in the establishment of the Potomac River Commission, which manages the river’s resources, and was chief patron of the Habitual Offenders Act of 1968, designed to get drunken drivers and other serious repeat offenders off the streets; and

WHEREAS, upon his retirement from the House of Delegates in 1973, Russell Carneal served as a general district court judge in York County before his appointment in 1977 to the Ninth Circuit Court; and

WHEREAS, Judge Carneal built an enviable reputation for judicial excellence, and his term on the bench was characterized by his integrity, fairness, professionalism, compassion, and knowledge of and respect for the law; and

WHEREAS, long after his retirement from the House of Delegates, Judge Carneal continued to render invaluable service to the General Assembly as a member of the Virginia Code Commission, earning the respect and affection of his fellow commission members; and

WHEREAS, first appointed to the Code Commission in 1972 as a legislator, Judge Carneal was reappointed in 1975 as a judge and served until his death; and

WHEREAS, during his term, the commission completed more than 20 recodifications, and Judge Carneal was instrumental in the codification of regulations into Virginia’s first Administrative Code; and

WHEREAS, throughout a long and meritorious career, Judge Russell Carneal served the citizens of Virginia with a rare combination of versatility, integrity, and dedication; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the passing of a singularly valuable Virginian, Russell M. Carneal; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Russell M. Carneal as an expression of the abiding respect in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the people of Virginia.