John R. Justice

He is considered a legend and has been referred to as a “giant,” a “great orator,” and “the best lawyer of his time.” And there is no name more fitting for a remarkable prosecutor than that of the late John Reid Justice. Throughout his career, Justice was considered by many as the best solicitor in the state of South Carolina and his legend lives on even after his death.

Throughout his life, Justice held various prestigious positions and made outstanding contributions to the criminal justice community. A graduate of the University of South Carolina Law School, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1970 and 1972 and was a member of the South Carolina National Guard from 1967 until 1992, when he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Justice was elected as solicitor for the 6th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina in 1978 and served seven consecutive terms, never facing an opponent in election. Only one South Carolina solicitor served longer. During his term, one of Justice’s main priorities was a focus on violent crime committed by juveniles. Many of the murders he prosecuted in the final years of his tenure were committed by young perpetrators—an issue that deeply concerned Justice, and one that he was committed to ending.

Justice was a member and former president of the Solicitors’ Association of South Carolina and served as a past president and a past chairman of the NDAA Board of Directors. As NDAA president, Justice looked to increase NDAA membership and help the organization become a stronger voice in Washington. He believed that the larger NDAA became, the stronger our voice in the nation’s capital. His ultimate goal was to have significant prosecutorial impact on federal crime legislation—a goal that has been reached in recent years. When Justice assumed the position as NDAA president, he said that one of NDAA’s greatest strengths is that “we are a level above all other prosecutors. We are professional career prosecutors—the ‘special prosecutors’ in this country.”

Justice was also instrumental in the creation of the National Advocacy Center (NAC) in South Carolina, an accomplishment of which he was extremely proud. The NAC has been an outstanding resource for prosecutors throughout the nation.

Justice remained dedicated to his pursuit of justice through his final days. He was chairman of the National College of District Attorneys’ board of regents at the time of his death and had planned to complete his term as solicitor before retiring.

His dedication to the pursuit of justice is illustrated, not only in his lengthy and successful career, but in the many awards and honors he received. Former South Carolina governor James Hodges presented Justice with the Order of Palmetto award for public service. More recently, Exit 55 of Interstate 77 in South Carolina was renamed the “Solicitor John R. Justice Interchange” in his honor. At the dedication ceremony, NDAA presented him with the President’s Award, the highest honor awarded by NDAA.

When he wasn’t working, Justice enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves and spent as much time as possible with his family: his wife Gracy and their three daughters, Dolly, Ivy and Tess—two of whom followed in their father’s footsteps and are now prosecutors themselves.

On September 29, 2006, John Reid Justice died at the age of 63. Justice had been battling congestive heart failure and related complications for close to two years. Earlier this year he was taken to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for a heart transplant, but complications arose and he was taken off the transplant list. Before his death he was going through rehabilitation in the hopes of improving his health enough to put his name back on the list.

His dedication to prosecution will be remembered and he will forever remain a hero to the criminal justice community.

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