2001 -- S 0166

=======
LC01179
=======

S  T  A  T  E     O  F     R  H  O  D  E     I  S  L  A  N  D    

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2001

____________

S  E  N  A  T  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE CHIEF JUSTICE JOSEPH R. WEISBERGER ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE RHODE ISLAND SUPREME COURT

WHEREAS, Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger born in Providence on August 3, 1920, attended Cranston High School, graduated Brown University Magna Cum Laude and obtained his Juris Doctor from Harvard University in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Chief Justice Weisberger served the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1946, and was released as Lieutenant Commander. He served as Town Moderator in East Providence and Town Solicitor in Glocester. Elected State Senator in 1952, Justice Weisberger served from 1953 to 1956 and as Minority Leader from 1955 to 1956; and

WHEREAS, In 1956 Judge Weisberger was named Associate Justice of the Superior Court until 1972 when he was named Presiding Justice of the Superior Court. In 1978 he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and in 1993 was appointed Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, In 1995, during an extremely tumultuous time in the Court System, Judge Joseph R. Weisberger was appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice; and

WHEREAS, A highly honored and respected man, Chief Justice Weisberger is past President of Phi Beta Kappa, past Chairman - Appellate Judges Conference ABA, past Chairman - National Conference State Trial Judges, past Member - House of Delegates ABA, past Member - Council of Judicial Administration Division, ABA, Member - American Law Institute, Life Fellow - American Bar Foundation, past Member - Board of Directors National Center for State Courts, Faculty Member - National Judicial College, Member - the Education Committee of Appellate Judges Conference, and past member - Senior Faculty NYU Appellate Seminar; and

WHEREAS, Awarded 11 honorary degrees, Chief Justice Weisberger is also the recipient of many awards, including the Erwin Griswold Award for Excellence in Teaching from the National Judicial College, the Herbert Harley Award from the American Judicature Society, and the Goodrich Award for Service to Rhode Island Taxpayers from the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II to the office of Knight Commander with Star Order of St. Gregory; and

WHEREAS, Chief Justice Weisberger has continually helped others through involvement with various local organizations, including serving as past Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Rhode Island Hospital, as a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph Hospital, as a past Member of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross of Rhode Island, as a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, and as past Chairman of the Governor's Council on Mental Health. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger is a man of honor, with a long and distinguished record of public service to the citizens of the State of Rhode Island. The mere mention of his name elicits a picture of a man who possesses outstanding ability, unmatched dignity and above all, honesty; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby congratulates The Honorable Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger on his retirement and wish him and his family the very best health and future happiness; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to The Honorable Joseph R. Weisberger.