H.R. No. 72
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed jurist, a trusted mentor,
and a true friend drew to a close with the passing of U.S. District
Judge Edward Huggins Johnstone of Louisville, Kentucky, on June 26,
2013, at the age of 91; and
WHEREAS, The son of William and Katherine Johnstone, Ed
Johnstone was born on April 26, 1922, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, while
his parents were in the country for agricultural business; he grew
up in Paducah and graduated from Lafayette High School in
Lexington, where he enrolled at the University of Kentucky; soon
into his undergraduate career, he was called into combat during
World War II; he went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, and for
his courageous efforts, he was awarded a Bronze Star and a Silver
Star; and
WHEREAS, Returning to Lexington and the university, he
completed his bachelor's degree and subsequently earned his juris
doctorate; during this time, he exchanged wedding vows with the
former Katherine Guion, with whom he shared in the joy of raising
four children, Anne, Bill, Mary, and Fraser; together, the two
moved to western Kentucky in 1949 and settled in Princeton, where
Mr. Johnstone would practice law for more than a quarter-century;
and
WHEREAS, In 1976, he was appointed judge of the 56th Judicial
Circuit, encompassing a four-county area; he spent only a year in
that post when, in 1977, he was selected to become U.S. District
Judge for the Western District of Kentucky in Paducah; and
WHEREAS, In his 30 years on the bench, Judge Johnstone
presided over a number of high-profile court cases, including one
concerning the treatment of the incarcerated; during that case, he
visited several penitentiaries unannounced in order to personally
assess their conditions; a local newspaper reported on one visit,
in which he climbed through a hole in a cell's wall undeterred by
the pool of ankle-deep raw sewage on the other side, a feat of
boldness that drew applause from the inmates; his ruling ultimately
set a standard for prisoner class action litigation and led to
sweeping reforms of the state prison system; and
WHEREAS, Judge Johnstone believed that all persons were
entitled to dignity and showed the same respect for everyone who
entered his courtroom; highly regarded for his integrity and
evenhandedness, he remained humble and self-effacing, allowing his
actions to speak for his character; over the years, he also went out
of his way to offer friendship and guidance to other individuals in
the legal profession; and
WHEREAS, His tireless work ethic earned him the distinction
of closing more criminal cases than any other judge in his district,
a record he maintained even after taking senior status in 1993; he
gave up the criminal docket in 2006 because of an increasing hearing
loss, but continued to handle social security disability appeals
for another five years; and
WHEREAS, Throughout a truly exemplary career, Judge Ed
Johnstone contributed immeasurably to his fellow citizens and to
his peers in the field of law, and he leaves behind a legacy of
compassion, wisdom, and understanding that will never be forgotten;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Edward Huggins Johnstone and extend sincere sympathy to the members
of his family: to his wife, Katherine Guion Johnstone; to his
sister, Katherine Elliott; to his brother, Robert Johnstone; to his
children, Anne Dill and her husband, Gerry, Bill Johnstone and his
wife, Karen Newman, Mary Pepper Woolwine and her husband, George,
and Fraser Johnstone and his wife, Tammy; to his grandchildren, Jed
English, Morgan Newman Armstrong, Guion Johnstone, Will English,
Conrad Newman, Chlodys Johnstone, and Stuart Dill; to his
great-grandchildren, Sara Jo and Aubrey Kathryn Armstrong; and to
his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of the
Honorable Edward Huggins Johnstone.
Bohac
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 72 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on July 25, 2013.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House