MONTGOMERY – On June 24, 2016, Secretary Merrill recognized Judge John H. England, Jr. of Tuscaloosa by awarding him the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award.

The NASS Medallion Award allows individual Secretaries of State to recognize outstanding service and dedication to furthering the mission of NASS within the states. The NASS Medallion Award was created to honor individuals, groups or organizations with an established record of promoting the goals of NASS in one or more of the following areas: elections, with special emphasis on voter education and participation, civic education, including the teaching, promotion and study of this subject, service to state government, specifically as it relates to the duties of the office of the Secretary of State or a commitment to giving – a business or individual whose philanthropic contributions have significantly enhanced the quality of life in a local or regional area within a state or within an entire state.

“I am appreciative to Judge England for his service and contributions to the justice system at the circuit and state levels,” said Secretary Merrill. “I am also grateful to his contributions as a valued and trusted member of the University Of Alabama Board Of Trustees.”

Judge England served two years in the Unites States Army as a Military Policeman. After graduating from Tuskegee Institute with a degree in Chemistry, Judge England attended the University Of Alabama School Of Law, where he was one of the first African Americans to graduate from that institution. He began practicing law in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1974 and was elected to the Tuscaloosa City Council in 1985, where he served two terms and was Chairman of the Finance and Community Development Committee.

He was appointed by Governor Jim Folsom to the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court in June 1993 and was elected to a full term in November 1994, where he served until he was appointed by Governor Don Siegelman to the Alabama Supreme Court in September 1999. Judge England served on the Alabama Supreme Court from September 1999 until January 2001. He returned to the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama in January 2001 and was re-elected to the Circuit Court in November 2002 and November 2008.

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