The Honorable John R. Justice was born September 13, 1943, in Great Falls, South Carolina, to parents Kate Baker and John Justice. He graduated from Great Falls High School in 1961 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina in 1965 and Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1967.
Justice served as a member of the S.C. National Guard from 1967 to 1992 and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in 1970 and 1972 and was elected solicitor for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in 1978, serving unopposed since that time.
Judge Justice served his profession in many ways. He served as a member and past president of the Solicitors’ Association of South Carolina, as president and chairman of the board of the National District Attorneys Association from which he received the President’s Award, the highest award given by the association, and served as chairman of the Board of Regents of the National College of District Attorneys at the time of his death.
Through his years of service and because of his commitment to helping others, Justice received numerous awards, including the Order of the Palmetto, awarded by former South Carolina Gov. James H. Hodges. In addition, Exit 55 along Interstate 77, which Justice referred to as the “crossroads of my life,”was named the Solicitor John R. Justice Interchange.
He was a member of numerous civic and charitable organizations and a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs of the South Carolina Bar, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and South Carolina Solicitors Association.
The Honorable John R. Justice died September 29, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Gracy Long Justice, and three children, Dolly L. Garfield, Ivy E. Justice and Tess C. Justice.