By Warren Davis, judge, Superior Court of Gwinnett County | A legend within the Gwinnett Bar Association recently passed away. His name, Clarence “Gene” Reeves Jr.
Reeves
I worked with Judge Reeves for 17 years. Judge Reeves was renowned for giving young offenders a “second chance.” He would say, “…use it to change your life…it changed mine.”
Here’s that story. Gene was born in Meridian, Miss. during the Depression. Gene’s first “second chance” was his own adoption by a loving family. Then, after high school, Gene enlisted in the Air Force. His unit was deployed to Korea. His base was overrun. Gene was wounded.
Gene returned from war, moving to Gwinnett. He joined the Gwinnett Sheriff’s Department. He was the first Gwinnett officer to complete the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy. He attended John Marshall Law School at night. Gene was admitted to practice law and joined the Georgia Bar in 1964.
Gene’s specialty was that of a trial lawyer. At the time, Georgia’s electric chair seldom collected dust. Death penalty trials were common, often held on short notice. Sometimes Gene had only a week or two to prepare his defense. Gene won more than 50 murder trials….while not a single one of his clients was ever executed.
It could be said that Gene was ahead of his time when it came to publicly-funded indigent defense. Gene would take a felony case for no fee, simply because the accused needed a lawyer and didn’t have any money. Or sometimes, the family of the jailed client needed help. Gene paid their late payments from his own pocket.
When Hustler Publisher Larry Flynt needed a local lawyer, he met with Gene. Flynt asked Gene what he thought of his magazine. Gene replied, “It is filth, but you have a constitutional right to publish it.” Flynt laughed, saying Gene was the first honest lawyer he ever met. Gene was hired.
As the criminal trial was underway, both Flynt and Gene were gunned down by a sniper. Flynt lay paralyzed on the sidewalk. A .44 magnum bullet ripped through Gene’s chest and arm. Gene lay in critical condition, again near death. After many operations, Gene recovered. Without ever being asked, Larry Flynt paid all medical expenses.
When the movie The People v. Larry Flynt was released, Gene received a call from The New York Times. Judge Joe Iannazzone recalls that conversation, which went like this:
“Judge Reeves, have you seen the new Larry Flynt movie?”
“No.”
“Are you going to?”
“No.”
“Can you tell me why?”
“I didn’t like how the story ended the first time. I doubt if I would like it any better now.”
Gene married a second time to his wife, Brenda, who survives him. Both described their marriage “as a honeymoon that lasted for over 37 years.” He loved Brenda and she loved him.
At age 64, when others retire, Gene began a judicial career, as a magistrate court judge, continuing for 17 years, until he was 81. He was fair to all. And, when Gene sentenced that young offender who just might deserve “a second chance,” he spoke from the heart when he said, “I’ve had a few second chances myself… they changed my life… they can change yours too.”
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