---
title: HR 435. Allen, Judge John; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr435
cite_as: HR 435, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr435
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr435.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr435/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70989
date: 2025-02-27
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr434.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr436.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr435.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 435
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-27
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Debbie Buckner
  - Teddy Reese
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Vance Smith
  - Carmen Rice
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR435/2025
upstream_id: 1987918
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - memorial resolution
  - Georgia judiciary
  - civil rights history
  - Columbus Georgia
  - military veterans
---

# HR 435. Allen, Judge John; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 435
By: Representatives Buckner of the 137th, Reese of the 140th, Hugley of the 141st, Smith of
the 138th, and Rice of the 139th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Judge John Allen; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Judge John Allen, a native of Columbus, Georgia; decorated fighter pilot;
and exemplary member of the judiciary; and
WHEREAS, Judge John Allen served as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with
the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged from service as a captain in 1973,
earning six Distinguished Flying Crosses and 23 Air Medals; and
WHEREAS, after his military service, he pursued legal education at the University of Florida
and returned to Columbus in 1976 to begin his distinguished career in law, later serving as
a judge in the Recorder's Court, State Court, and Superior Court of Muscogee County for a
combined 26 years; and
WHEREAS, a trailblazer for civil rights, Judge John Allen marched in Selma for voting
rights in 1965, and in the 1970s, he co-founded the first integrated law firm in Columbus,
paving the way for greater representation and equality in the legal profession; and
WHEREAS, he served as the chief judge of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit upon his
retirement in 2013 and was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame in 2020
in recognition of his outstanding service to both his country and his community; and
WHEREAS, his legacy of leadership extended beyond the courtroom through his
involvement in numerous community organizations, including the Columbus Airport
Commission, the Columbus High School Vocational Education Advisory Board, the Urban
League Board of Directors, the Area Ten Special Olympics Advisory Board, and the African
American Historic Preservation Society; and
WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation
for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example he made of his life, he
made this world a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Judge John Allen will long be remembered
for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great
fortune of knowing him.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Judge John Allen and
express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the
family of Judge John Allen.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution honors the life of Judge John Allen of Columbus, a decorated Air Force pilot and longtime Muscogee County judge who died recently, and directs a copy be sent to his family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial tribute from the Georgia House of Representatives to Judge John Allen, a Columbus native who served as an Air Force fighter pilot before becoming a judge in Muscogee County's Recorder's Court, State Court, and Superior Court over a combined 26 years. It recounts his military honors, his 1965 march in Selma for voting rights, his co-founding of Columbus's first integrated law firm, and his community service on several local boards.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally expresses the House's regret at his passing and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Judge Allen's family.

### What it does

- Formally honors the life and memory of Judge John Allen on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Recites his military service, legal career, and civil rights involvement as findings within the resolution.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for his family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, serving only as a ceremonial tribute.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names Judge John Allen and his family, who will receive a copy of it. It has no regulatory effect on the public, businesses, or government agencies.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no practical legal effect on Georgians generally; its significance is symbolic, recording the legislature's formal recognition of a judge's military and legal career and providing his family an official memorial from the state.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses recount Judge Allen's Air Force service, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 23 Air Medals, and his 26 years as a Muscogee County judge.
- The whereas clauses also note his 1965 march in Selma and co-founding the first integrated law firm in Columbus in the 1970s.
- The first resolving clause states the House's formal expression of regret at his passing.
- The final resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to produce a copy for distribution to his family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-27)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-27)
- Sponsors: Debbie Buckner, Teddy Reese, Carolyn Hugley, Vance Smith, Carmen Rice
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70989

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr435.md?full=1