2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 165
Commending Howard E. Gwynn.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 5, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2026
WHEREAS, after 30 years of distinguished service, Howard E. Gwynn retired as the Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Newport News on January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Howard Gwynn was born and raised in Newport News during a time of racial segregation, which inspired him to dedicate his life to the pursuit of equal justice for all; his passion for community service was nurtured by his mother and reinforced by people like civil rights activist and former state lawmaker Flora Crittenden, who served as his guidance counselor in high school; and
WHEREAS, Howard Gwynn graduated as valedictorian of George W. Carver High School, earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy with honors from Dartmouth College, then received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School; and
WHEREAS, Howard Gwynn began his career as an assistant prosecutor, then was elected as the Commonwealth's Attorney for Newport News in 1990; he led a team of more than 75 professionals whose goal was to ensure that the criminal justice system worked for everyone, from survivors of crime and their families to defendants trying to rebuild their lives; and
WHEREAS, under Howard Gwynn's leadership, Newport News was among the first localities in the Commonwealth to launch drug courts, trauma-informed programs for victims, and behavioral health dockets, reflecting his ideals that the justice system should promote healing, not just punishment; and