2020 -- H 7006

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE SUPERIOR

COURT JUSTICE, JOHN E. ORTON, III

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Craven, McKiernan, and Millea

     Date Introduced: January 07, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the

Honorable Justice John E. Orton, III. Judge Orton was the son of the late John E. Jr., and Irene

Orton. He was the loving husband of the late Sabra Orton. He leaves behind his wife Denise

Orton. Judge Orton was a graduate of Cranston High School, where he was the Class President,

the Cheshire Academy Class of 1950, Brown University in 1954, and the Boston University

School of Law in 1962. He also served our nation with honor as a member of the United States

Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He excelled in athletics and was a

distinguished member of both the Brown University and Marine Corps Football Teams; and

     WHEREAS, Justice Orton was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar Association in 1962 and

began his exemplary legal career by practicing law in Warwick and Providence with former

Governor Philip Noel. In 1969, he was appointed to serve as an Associate Justice of the Rhode

District Court by Governor Frank Licht and in 1974 he was appointed to serve as an Associate

Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court by Governor Noel. Judge Orton retired in 1991 as the

Acting Presiding Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Orton was a distinguished jurist who leaves behind a sterling record

of tireless service and impeccable integrity. Judge Orton presided over many of Rhode Island's

most important and complex cases. He was widely admired and respected by all involved in the

legal process. Presiding Superior Court Justice Alice Gibney, in describing Judge Orton, said that

"The joy of him was that he was a joy for lawyers to appear before because he was savvy, he was

efficient and he was decisive", and she went on to say about Judge Orton that "There was an

everyman demeanor that made him popular with lawyers and with jurors"; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Orton also was a devoted family man, a dear friend to many, and a

role model to numerous aspiring lawyers. His passing is a tremendous loss to our state and his

family and many friends, but his distinguished legacy will live on forever. Perhaps former

Governor Philip Noel expressed it best when he said about Judge Orton "In all of my experience,

he was the finest man I ever met"; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife Denise Orton, he also leaves behind his children,

John W. Orton, Richard E. Orton and his wife, Karen, and Christopher Orton and his wife,

Elizabeth. He was the stepfather of Karen Soderi and her husband, Paul, and Sheila Felice and her

husband, John. He was the grandfather of Stephanie, Heather, Alexandra, Emma, Jackson,

Calvin, Daniel, and Nicholas, and the great-grandfather of Gibson, Avery and Emma, and was the

brother of Joyce Vanderwart. Judge Orton is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and good

friends; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the Orton Family on the

passing of the Honorable John E. Orton, III, Retired Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Denise Orton and Family.

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