A concurrent RESOLUTION

To recognize and honor Betty Miller, Deputy Solicitor for the 16th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, and TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR RECEIVING THE Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecution for 2022.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to learn that Betty Miller received the prestigious Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecution in 2022; and

Whereas, the Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecution, the state's highest award of excellence for a prosecutor, is awarded each year at the South Carolina Solicitors' Association annual conference; and

Whereas, after graduating from law school, Ms. Miller began her career in law, serving as a prosecutor in Union County in 1995 for a little more than four years, during which time she successfully helped to move the overloaded docket while balancing justice with efficiency. She was able to reduce the pending inventory of cases from the high hundreds to the low double digits; and

Whereas, in 2000, she began serving as a prosecutor in the York office of the 16th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, a formidable prosecutor, supervisor, and mentor; and

Whereas, as a deputy solicitor and an administrator supervising and training the many new prosecutors that cycled in and out of the office, Ms. Miller prepared a league of lawyers who have served far beyond the boundaries of York County; and

Whereas, her ability to lead and teach a cadre of attorneys has benefitted the Solicitor's Office tremendously, even while she handled difficult cases that deserved the attention of an extremely capable prosecutor. She offered innovative proposals candidly while overseeing and supporting the morale of the younger lawyers, displaying her knack for helping others and focusing on the greater good; and

Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Miller personally assumed responsibility for overseeing expedited prosecution or release on bond of pre-trial detainees. This reduction in jail population afforded a safer environment for both the jail staff and the detainees during efforts at the jail to minimize the risk of COVID outbreak in the detention center; and

Whereas, in her office she has a display of a World War II era poster with J. Howard Miller's depiction of a woman who vows with her fist raised, "We can do it!", and that attitude has defined Ms. Miller's career; and

Whereas, the 16th Circuit Solicitor's Office has been one of the most successful offices in the State over the last twenty years because of the leadership and resolve that Ms. Miller has demonstrated; and

Whereas, with exceptional attention to detail, Ms. Miller supervised the docket and consistently provided superior results on her cases. Due to her leadership and guidance, the citizens of York and Union counties have enjoyed safety and security not found in many communities; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is grateful for the exceptional years of service that Betty Miller has given to the 16th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office and to the citizens of our great State, and the members wish her continued success and satisfaction in the struggle for justice. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Betty Miller, Deputy Solicitor for the 16th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, and congratulate her for receiving the Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecution for 2022.

Be it further resolved that the copy of this resolution be presented to Betty Miller.

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