State of Mississippi Judiciary

Resolution commends life and service of former Chief Justice Armis E. Hawkins

March 2, 2006

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 1, adopted a resolution commending the life and service of former Chief Justice Armis E. Hawkins. Justice Hawkins, 85, of Houston, died on Feb. 28.

The resolution signed by Chief Justice James W. Smith Jr. reads:

WHEREAS, Armis E. Hawkins of Houston, Mississippi, a former Justice, Presiding Justice, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, departed this life prematurely on February 28, 2006; and
WHEREAS, our Nation, our State, this Court , and the cause of the administration of justice suffered a great loss as a result of the death of former Chief Justice Hawkins; and

WHEREAS, former Chief Justice Hawkins

- was born in Natchez, Mississippi, on Armistice Day, 1920, the son of Charles Mayfield Hawkins and Lela Hill Hawkins, and died on February 28, 2006;
- graduated from Houston High School in Houston, Mississippi, in May, 1938, attended Wood Junior College from 1938 to 1939, undergraduate school at the University of Mississippi from 1940 to 1941, and the University of Mississippi School of Law from 1941 to 1942 when his studies were interrupted by World War II, and then graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in May, 1947;
- was engaged in the private practice of law in Houston from 1947 until 1981;
- was elected, reelected and served as the District Attorney for the Third Circuit Court District for two terms;
- was elected in 1980, reelected in 1988, and served as a Justice, then a Presiding Justice and then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1981 until his retirement from the Court on November 30, 1995;
- During his more than 14 years of service on the Supreme Court of Mississippi, authored numerous majority opinions for the Court and numerous separate opinions;
- was a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America;
- served as a Commissioner, Mississippi State Bar; President, Third Circuit Court Bar Association; and as a member of the Mississippi Judicial Council; and
- volunteered in June, 1942, as a private in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in January, 1946.

WHEREAS, the members of this Court desire to express their deep sense of loss at the death of our esteemed and distinguished predecessor, former Chief Justice Armis E. Hawkins.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI as follows:

1. That the Supreme Court of Mississippi deeply mourns the passing of former Chief Justice Armis E. Hawkins but notes with pride and appreciation his exemplary life of dedicated service to our Nation, State, the judiciary, and the administration of justice;

2. That this Court commends the life and accomplishments of former Chief Justice Armis E. Hawkins and extends its deepest sympathy to his family upon his passing;

3. That the Clerk of this Court shall place a copy of this Resolution in the minutes of this Court and forward a copy of this Resolution to West Publishing Company for publication at an appropriate location in the Southern Reporter, Mississippi Cases, the official reports of this Court; and

4. That the Clerk of this court shall forward copies of this Resolution to the family of former Chief Justice Hawkins.

SO UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI in Jackson, Mississippi, on this, the 1st day of March, 2006.

James W. Smith, Jr., Chief Justice,
For the Supreme Court of Mississippi

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