| 1 | 1 | | GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA |
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| 2 | 2 | | SESSION 2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | H D |
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| 4 | 4 | | HOUSE SIMPLE RESOLUTION DRHR40014 -LG-21 |
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| 7 | 7 | | |
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| 8 | 8 | | Sponsors: Representative Ball. |
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| 9 | 9 | | Referred |
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| 10 | 10 | | to: |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | *DRHR40014 -LG-21* |
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| 14 | 14 | | A HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF JOSEPH "JOE" 1 |
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| 15 | 15 | | ROBERT JOHN, SR., LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | IN THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | Whereas, Joseph "Joe" Robert John, Sr., was born on Thursday, October 12, 1939, to 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | Joseph Andrew John and Stephanie Ann John in East Chicago, Indiana; and 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., received a bachelor's degree in English with a 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | minor in Political Science, a master's degree in Comparative Literature, and a Juris Doctorate 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | Whereas, upon completing his education and becoming a three-time alumnus of the 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Joseph Robert John, Sr., remained an avid, lifelong 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | fan of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, celebrating many Tar Heel victories in Kenan 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | Stadium and the Dean Dome; and 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., assisted indigent clients upon assuming his first 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | position as a lawyer with the Greensboro Legal Aid Foundation, before subsequently working as 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | an Assistant District Attorney and Chief Assistant District Attorney, and as a litigation attorney 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | for Pell, Pell, Weston and John; and 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., had a highly distinguished career in public service 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | which spanned the highest levels of the government of North Carolina across all three branches, 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | serving as Director of the State Crime Lab, Acting Commissioner of the North Carolina 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | Department of Motor Vehicles, and Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals; and 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., was a highly capable public servant who dedicated 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | his time, energy, and talents to the betterment of the State, representing North Carolina House 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | District 40 in Wake County in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2017 to 2025; 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | and 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | Whereas, while serving in the legislature, Joseph Robert John, Sr., focused on 25 |
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| 39 | 39 | | Criminal Justice, Judicial Elections, Public Transportation, and Education. He served on 26 |
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| 40 | 40 | | numerous committees, including Appropriations; Appropriations – Justice and Public Safety; 27 |
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| 41 | 41 | | Education – Community Colleges; Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform; Judiciary 3; 28 |
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| 42 | 42 | | Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House; and Transportation; and 29 |
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| 43 | 43 | | Whereas, while serving in the legislature, Joseph Robert John, Sr., participated in 30 |
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| 44 | 44 | | various caucuses across several different areas of interest, including the Bipartisan Safety and 31 |
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| 45 | 45 | | Criminal Justice Caucus, the Early Childhood Caucus, the Economic Development and Foreign 32 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Trade Caucus, the Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts Education, and the Life Science Caucus; and 33 |
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| 47 | 47 | | Whereas, among his many contributions to improving the State of North Carolina, 34 |
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| 48 | 48 | | Joseph Robert John, Sr., served on the North Carolina Courts Commission and was appointed to 35 |
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| 49 | 49 | | chair the Commission by Governor Roy Cooper; and 36 |
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| 50 | 50 | | H.R. 18 |
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| 51 | 51 | | Jan 29, 2025 |
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| 52 | 52 | | HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 |
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| 53 | 53 | | Page 2 DRHR40014-LG-21 |
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| 54 | 54 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., was an effective advocate for several important 1 |
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| 55 | 55 | | election initiatives, including filing bills to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission and 2 |
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| 56 | 56 | | nonpartisan judicial elections; and 3 |
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| 57 | 57 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., was a primary sponsor of numerous bills that 4 |
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| 58 | 58 | | became law and have a significant impact on the workings of the judiciary and the criminal justice 5 |
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| 59 | 59 | | system; and 6 |
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| 60 | 60 | | Whereas, the colleagues of Joseph Robert John, Sr., in the House of Representatives 7 |
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| 61 | 61 | | held him in the highest regard, listening to and depending on his wisdom and experience to seek 8 |
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| 62 | 62 | | to improve the workings of the judiciary and the criminal justice system; and 9 |
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| 63 | 63 | | Whereas, in the eight years he represented House District 40, Joseph Robert John, Sr., 10 |
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| 64 | 64 | | consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to serving the people of North Carolina and held 11 |
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| 65 | 65 | | the service of his constituents as a top priority, tirelessly advocating for their well-being—one of 12 |
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| 66 | 66 | | the many qualities that made him a much beloved legislator by his colleagues and the hundreds 13 |
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| 67 | 67 | | of thousands of people that he helped; and 14 |
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| 68 | 68 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., has been a champion of justice and equity, standing 15 |
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| 69 | 69 | | firm in his dedication to ethical governance and the principles of the rule of law; and 16 |
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| 70 | 70 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., upheld the highest standards of dignity and respect 17 |
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| 71 | 71 | | in public service, conducting himself with grace and humility throughout his public service 18 |
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| 72 | 72 | | career; and 19 |
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| 73 | 73 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., provided thoughtful and principled leadership, 20 |
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| 74 | 74 | | using his extensive knowledge and wisdom to address the most pressing challenges facing the 21 |
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| 75 | 75 | | State; and 22 |
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| 76 | 76 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., earned the trust and admiration of his colleagues 23 |
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| 77 | 77 | | and constituents through his unwavering integrity; and 24 |
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| 78 | 78 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., served as an active member of the North Carolina 25 |
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| 79 | 79 | | and Wake County Bar Associations and served on the boards of numerous community 26 |
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| 80 | 80 | | organizations, including the Leesville Road High School Pride Athletic Association, the 27 |
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| 81 | 81 | | Greensboro Center for Creative Arts, Family and Children's Services of Greater Greensboro, and 28 |
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| 82 | 82 | | the North Carolina Forensic Science Advisory Board; and 29 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., was honored by the North Carolina State Bar with 30 |
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| 84 | 84 | | the "Fifty Years of Service" award; and 31 |
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| 85 | 85 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., was recognized for significant contributions to his 32 |
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| 86 | 86 | | State and community, receiving the highest civilian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award 33 |
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| 87 | 87 | | from Governor Jim Hunt; and 34 |
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| 88 | 88 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., passed away on Monday, January 20, 2025, after 35 |
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| 89 | 89 | | a lifetime of working on behalf of the people of his community and the State; and 36 |
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| 90 | 90 | | Whereas, Governor Josh Stein proclaimed that the flags of North Carolina be lowered 37 |
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| 91 | 91 | | to half-staff on Thursday, January 30, 2025, in mourning for and recognition of the exemplary 38 |
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| 92 | 92 | | life of Joseph Robert John, Sr.; and 39 |
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| 93 | 93 | | Whereas, Joseph Robert John, Sr., is survived by a devoted family, including his wife 40 |
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| 94 | 94 | | of 42 years, Evelyn John; his children and their spouses, Steffi John Briley, Joseph Andrew 41 |
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| 95 | 95 | | "Andy" John II and his wife Allison, and Joseph "Joe" Robert John, Jr., and his wife Julie; his 42 |
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| 96 | 96 | | grandchildren, Lessie Ann, Annabelle, Aden, Ella, Remy, Dagny, and Samantha; his siblings, 43 |
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| 97 | 97 | | Andrea Webb and her husband Gary, and their three sons, and the Hon. Steven John and his wife 44 |
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| 98 | 98 | | Susan, and their son; and several other close family members; Now, therefore, 45 |
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| 99 | 99 | | Be it resolved by the House of Representatives: 46 |
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| 100 | 100 | | SECTION 1. The House of Representatives recognizes and expresses its 47 |
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| 101 | 101 | | appreciation for the public service rendered by Joseph "Joe" Robert John, Sr., which has 48 |
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| 102 | 102 | | contributed to the betterment of the State of North Carolina. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 |
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| 103 | 103 | | DRHR40014-LG-21 Page 3 |
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| 104 | 104 | | SECTION 2. The House of Representatives extends its sincerest sympathy to the 1 |
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| 105 | 105 | | family of Joseph "Joe" Robert John, Sr., in the loss of one of its most distinguished and 2 |
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| 106 | 106 | | outstanding members. 3 |
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| 107 | 107 | | SECTION 3. The Principal Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the family 4 |
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| 108 | 108 | | of Joseph "Joe" Robert John, Sr. 5 |
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| 109 | 109 | | SECTION 4. This resolution is effective upon adoption. 6 |
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