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TO COMMEND JANE OPITZ SHULER, CHIEF COUNSEL OF THE JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION COMMISSION AND STAFF ATTORNEY TO THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, FOR HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMISSION AND THE COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE AS A WHOLE AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO HER AS SHE BEGINS HER NEW ROLE AS CHIEF COUNSEL FOR THE ETHICS COMMITTEE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Whereas, the members of the Senate have learned that Jane Opitz Shuler of Columbia will leave the employ of the Senate on February 16, 2015, to become chief counsel to the House Ethics Commission; and
Whereas, Jane is the daughter of Margaret "Peggy" and Armand Morris Opitz; the wife of Franklin Grady Shuler, Jr.; and the proud parent of Franklin Grady Shuler III (Trey), a First Lieutenant serving as an infantry officer in the United States Army; foster parent to Philipp A. Boettcher; and loving owner of Ike and Jackson, her beloved German shorthaired pointers; and
Whereas, after graduating from Clemson University, cum laude, with a degree in history and from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, she became a member of the Alabama Bar in 1987 and worked for a federal judge in Alabama; and
Whereas, she became a member of the South Carolina Bar in 1992 and served for nine years at the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs before beginning her employ as Senate counsel for the Judicial Merit Selection Commission and staff attorney for Senate Judiciary Committee in 2002; and
Whereas, in 2006, she became the chief counsel of the Judicial Merit Commission, where she has ably met the challenges of the critical and complex issues that have confronted the Commission; and
Whereas, she has had the distinction of serving as Senate counsel and chief counsel for the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, as well as staff attorney for the Senate Judiciary Committee, for two chairmen, Senator Glenn F. McConnell of Charleston and Senator Larry A. Martin of Pickens; and
Whereas, she has served with merit as staff counsel for numerous pieces of legislation touching in many ways on the courts, including Court Rules, tort reform, unauthorized practice of law, and veteran's courts, to name just a few; and
Whereas, she has served as chief counsel to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, handling numerous judicial screenings, where her expertise and knowledge of the Judicial Canons is surpassed by none and where she has earned the respect of the members of the Commission, her fellow staff, and the members of the judiciary and judicial candidates because of her intelligence, diligence, and knowledge; and
Whereas, while working at the Senate, Jane obtained an education specialist degree in counselor education and became a national certified counselor; and
Whereas, she has enriched the well-being of this State through her service in numerous roles in her church and in civic organizations, including her enthusiasm for her counseling work, West Point Parents Club, Junior League of Columbia, Columbia Garden Club, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, House of Delegates of the South Carolina Bar, and too many other organizations to name; and
Whereas, the members and staff of the Senate will miss her strong work ethic, professionalism, gracious assistance, and delicious pound cakes; and
Whereas, the members of the Senate express their sincere gratitude to Jane for her many years of dedicated and excellent service to the General Assembly and the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, although her presence in the Senate and with the Judicial Merit Selection Commission will be missed, her depth of knowledge and diligence will continue to benefit and enhance the well-being of this State. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate commend Jane Opitz Shuler, for her excellent service to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, and to the Senate as a whole and extend best wishes to her as she begins her new role as Chief Counsel for the Ethics Committee of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jane Opitz Shuler.
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