Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SJR0167 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
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4	4	SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 167
5	5	By Crowe
6	6
7	7
8	8	SJR0167
9	9	003968
10	10	- 1 -
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12	12	A RESOLUTION to honor Jeff Kelly, Public Defender for the First
13	13	Judicial District, on the occasion of his
14	14	retirement.
15	15
16	16	WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should specially
17	17	recognize those estimable public servants who have dedicated themselves to improving the
18	18	quality of life for their fellow citizens; and
19	19	WHEREAS, Jeff Kelly, as Public Defender for the First Judicial District, has excelled in
20	20	his statutory mission of representing individuals who cannot afford a private attorney; and
21	21	WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly and his staff have accomplished this mission by ably representing
22	22	their clients in the courts of Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties; and
23	23	WHEREAS, Jeff Kelly is taking a much-deserved retirement after an exemplary career
24	24	with the Public Defenders Conference that spans thirty-five years; and
25	25	WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly was appointed First Judicial District Public Defender in September
26	26	2009 by Governor Phil Bredesen and was first elected to the post in 2010; and
27	27	WHEREAS, prior to his appointment, he served with distinction as an Assistant Public
28	28	Defender for the First Judicial District for twenty years; and
29	29	WHEREAS, recognized as a leader by his peers and colleagues, Jeff Kelly has served
30	30	the Tennessee Public Defenders Conference as a member of its Legislative, Technology, Ad-
31	31	Hoc Staffing Criteria, Ad-Hoc Administrative Staff Salary, Education, and Training committees;
32	32	and
33	33	WHEREAS, an alumnus of Milligan College, he earned his law degree at the University
34	34	of Tennessee; and
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36	36
37	37	- 2 - 003968
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39	39	WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly has given back to his community through his involvement in the
40	40	local bar association, Rotary, and various community projects and is an active member of
41	41	Hopwood Christian Church; and
42	42	WHEREAS, a fan of college sports, he is a natural handyman and looks forward to
43	43	tackling his next big project during retirement; and
44	44	WHEREAS, Mr. Kelly cannot wait to spend more time with his family, which includes his
45	45	loving wife of thirty years, Julie Ann Kelly; their children, Devin Johnson, Holley Kelly, Will Kelly,
46	46	and Olivia Kelly; and grandchildren, Bryn Johnson, Rowan Johnson, Cecily Johnson, and Edith
47	47	Johnson; and
48	48	WHEREAS, throughout his estimable career, Jeff Kelly demonstrated the utmost
49	49	professionalism, ability, and integrity, winning the unbridled respect and admiration of members
50	50	of the bar and bench and his community alike; now, therefore,
51	51	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH
52	52	GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
53	53	REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor and commend Jeff Kelly, Public Defender
54	54	for the First Judicial District, on the occasion of his retirement, salute his thirty-five-year career
55	55	spent serving the citizens of Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties, and extend to
56	56	him our best wishes for enjoying the fruits of his labor.
57	57	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
58	58	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
59	59	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
60	60	without House or Senate designation.
61	61