LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of The Honorable James Preston
King, retired U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General and Judge of the New
York State Court of Claims, and former New York State Assemblyman

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to celebrate the life
and accomplishments of distinguished citizens of the State of New York
who dedicated their lives to public service and distinguished themselves
in their profession; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body mourns the passing of The
Honorable James Preston King, retired U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier Gener-
al and Judge of the New York State Court of Claims, and former New York
State Assemblyman, in Albany, New York on June 11, 2010 at the age of
80; and
WHEREAS, The son of the late Preston and Ethel Shear King, Judge King
was born in Ticonderoga, New York on July 14, 1929; he graduated from
Westminster College and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S.
Marine Corps, serving with the 3rd Marine Division in the Far East and
becoming company Executive Officer; and
WHEREAS, After release from active duty, he entered Albany Law School
and graduated in 1959; the next year he returned to the Marine Corps as
a Captain serving in Okinawa and Vietnam; in 1967, he was assigned
Senior Marine Instructor at the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode
Island; and
WHEREAS, After he returned to Vietnam and before being assigned Judge
Advocate to the Fleet Marine Force, he was selected to attend George
Washington University, where he earned an LL.M. degree in criminal law
and psychiatry; in 1978, he was promoted to Brigadier General and became
the Corps' highest-ranking JAG officer as the Director of the Judge
Advocate Division and as staff Judge Advocate for two Commandants of the
corps; and
WHEREAS, Among Marine Corps decorations and awards he earned are the
Bronze Star Medal with Combat V and the Combat Action Ribbon, as well as
a multitude of citations and service medals; and
WHEREAS, Upon Judge King's retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps in
1980, he was a Law Clerk for State Supreme Court Trial Judge Dominic
Viscardi before teaching law at Stetson University Law School in Flori-
da; he later returned to New York, where he subsequently headed the Tort
Unit - Claims Bureau in the Office of the New York State Attorney Gener-
al and from 1984 until 2009, he was also an Adjunct Professor at Albany
Law School, teaching Trial Tactics and Advocacy; and
WHEREAS, In 1990, Judge King left the Attorney General's Office to run
for the State Assembly and went on to serve from 1991-1995, ably repres-
enting the 109th Assembly District and the people of Essex, Warren,
Franklin and Clinton Counties; he served as ranking Minority Member on
the Assembly Codes Committee until he resigned in 1995 to accept an
appointment to the New York State Court of Claims, where he served until
mandatory retirement in 2001, shortly after which, he was named General
Counsel in the New York State Department of State; and
WHEREAS, Judge King subsequently served as a Judicial Hearing Officer
and was named a Hearing Officer for the New York State Retirement
System; he also was the first government lawyer in residence at the
Government Law Center of Albany Law School and served as the distin-
guished jurist in residence at Siena College, where he mentored pre-law
students and served as Co-coach of the Mock Trial Team; and

WHEREAS, Judge King, in addition, served on the New York State Commis-
sion on Public Authority Reform, the Temporary Commission on Lobbying as
a member and chair, and the State Commission on Public Integrity; and
WHEREAS, Judge King was honored many times in recognition of his
expertise, commitment and service; in 2009, the Northern District of the
New York Federal Court Bar Association awarded Judge King its presti-
gious Hon. James R. Duane Award, given to individuals who have demon-
strated "a deep personal commitment to the preservation and understand-
ing of our legal heritage" and, in 2010, he was honored to have been
presented with the Government Law Center at Albany Law School's Lifetime
Achievement in Public Service Award; and
WHEREAS, Judge King was also a board member of the PARC Committee in
Plattsburgh and an accomplished jazz trombonist; and
WHEREAS, Judge King was predeceased by his wife, Jane Campbell King;
he is survived by his wife, Anne Brewster King; his sons, James Preston
King Jr., David Knox King and his wife Kim, and Glenn Campbell King and
his wife Theresa; his nine grandchildren; his two sisters, Carolyn
Charlton and Ruth Malaney; his several nieces and nephews; his two step-
daughters, Julianne Chesky and Martha Kearns; and a legion of
colleagues, friends and admirers who will long honor his memory; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life of The Honorable James Preston King, retired Judge of
the New York State Court of Claims, to recognize his many accomplish-
ments, and to honor his memory; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of The Honorable James Preston King with the deep-
est condolences of this Legislative Body.