SR 79: Beasley, Judge Dorothy Toth; condolences

Senate Resolution 79

By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Harbison of the 15th, Jones of the 10th, Beach of the 21st, McLaurin of the 14th and others

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and memory of Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley on May 19, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley was born on October 5, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, a beloved daughter of Stephen and Beatrice Toth; and

WHEREAS, after studying American history and government at St. Lawrence University in New York, she briefly worked at the State Department in Washington, D.C., before attending the American University Washington College of Law, where she was one of only a few females in her class; and

WHEREAS, upon her graduation, Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley began her distinguished law career as a clerk in Arlington, Virginia, before becoming an associate at the law firm Shadyac, Berg & Nolen; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure at the Georgia Office of the Attorney General, she worked in the criminal division and argued five cases before the United States Supreme Court, including the landmark cases Doe v. Bolton and Furman v. Georgia; and

WHEREAS, she further served as a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Georgia before becoming the first female judge of the Fulton County State Court, where she introduced the county to the concept of community service as a criminal sentence; and

WHEREAS, in 1984, she was appointed by then-Governor Joe Frank Harris as the first woman on the Georgia Court of Appeals, becoming the state's first female appellate judge as well as the court's first female chief judge in 1995; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated member of her community, Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley served with multiple professional organizations, supported civics education programs, advocated for public health, raised awareness of child sex trafficking, and much more; and

WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous woman, Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley will long be remembered for her love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing her.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley and express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley.