A house RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF RICHARD SCOTT JOYE OF MURRELLS INLET, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened by the passing of Richard Scott Joye of Murrells Inlet on April 19, 2023, at the age of sixty; and

 

Whereas, Scott was born in Georgetown on July 22, 1962, the son of John Richard Joye and Sylvia Scott Joye. A lifelong resident of South Carolina, Scott was a loyal Gamecock enthusiast and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities. He was an ardent supporter of our Second Amendment right to bear arms. As a program attorney for U.S. LawShield, Scott spoke all over the State of South Carolina on gun law issues and stood ready to defend any of its South Carolina members as needed; and

 

Whereas, in preparation for his career, he graduated from Francis Marion University and the University of South Carolina School of Law. A member of the South Carolina Bar since 1996, he began his legal career serving the Honorable Sidney T. Floyd as a law clerk in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Horry and Georgetown counties. Upon completion of his clerkship, Scott worked as an assistant solicitor, prosecuting cases in Magistrate's Court, Family Court, and the Court of the General Sessions in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit for two years. In 1998, he returned home to Murrells Inlet and opened his own practice. Scott successfully defended cases as mundane as a noise ordinance to as serious as murder. He practiced at all levels of the South Carolina trial courts for more than nineteen years: Magistrate's and Municipal Courts, Family Court, General Sessions, and Federal Court; and

 

Whereas, in 2010, he was recognized as Member of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for his efforts in helping other criminal defense lawyers through educational seminars, whether as a course director or through speaking at seminars throughout the State. Scott was a former council member of the State Bar Criminal Law Section and spoke on criminal defense law topics at continuing legal education seminars in Ohio, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and, of course, South Carolina; and

 

Whereas, in addition, he was named a Top Rated Attorney in South Carolina by the lawyer rating service Avvo for every year since 2010 and was rated as a Super Lawyer by Superlawyers Magazine for many years. Scott was an Independent Program Attorney for U.S. LawShield with the law firm of Joye, Nappier, Risher & Hardin LLC. He served numerous professional organizations in his field. To commemorate his outstanding service and achievements, the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has named a scholarship for the education of young lawyers in his honor; and

 

Whereas, preceded in death by his grandparents, Lucius and Eulene Scott and Ernest and Mary Joye, Scott leaves to cherish his memory his parents of Murrells Inlet; a son, J.C. Joye of Murrells Inlet; a daughter, Leigh Anne Joye of Columbia; and a host of other friends and family members. He will be remembered as a respected South Carolina leader, one who will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Richard Scott Joye of Murrells Inlet, celebrate his life, and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family.

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