SCOTTSBORO, Alabama (WAFF) – A Scottsboro attorney celebrated two milestones Wednesday afternoon. The Honorable Judge Jack Livingston was surrounded by family, friends and colleagues as he celebrated his 98th birthday and 75 years of service in the legal profession.

“I feel pretty good, it’s an extremely good feeling to be here and to have the whole group here,” Livingston said.

Livingston continues to practice law today and works in his own firm as an insurance attorney in Scottsboro. Judge John Graham and other Jackson County attorneys honored Livingston for his years of dedication at the Jackson County Courthouse on Wednesday.

“I didn’t expect this, I didn’t ask for this. I think the judges and the lawyers here and Judge Graham were the driving force behind this. I’m very surprised that all these people came. I’m glad they did. It’s so nice to get recognition after all these years,” Livingston told WAFF 48.

Livingston is the father of Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston and has had a long but distinguished legal career.

Livingston graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1950 and cites his admission into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1982 as one of his greatest accomplishments.

Over the years, Livingston served as a prosecutor and district judge in Jackson County and Dekalb County.

During the event, he was honored by the Alabama State Bar Association and received an award from Governor Kay Ivey’s office for his 75 years of service.

After the ceremony, he gave some advice to aspiring lawyers.

“I think people need to be more polite to each other. Our neighborhoods need to become neighborhoods again. Young people need to understand the value of going to church and getting involved in good organizations,” Livingston said.

Livingston has worked with many lawyers over the years and said he misses the many colleagues he has lost.

“We had a group that ate lunch together for many years, and I’m the only one left from that group, and I don’t like eating alone,” Livingston said.

But no matter how old he is, he looks to the future with confidence.

“If I can make it to next year, I will be proud,” Livingston said.

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