To celebrate Black History Month this year, we wanted to celebrate judges in each class of court, along with a judge who came before them, judges who have mentored them, or even a first that they themselves achieved.
Supreme Court of Georgia Justice Verda Colvin in front of a portrait of Chief Justice Robert Benham, who was the first Black Justice to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia.
See: http://tinyurl.com/mus4tkv4 & http://tinyurl.com/p835ujs7
Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Yvette Miller in front of Chief Judge John “Jack” Ruffin, Jr., who was the first Black Georgia Court of Appeals Chief Judge.
See: http://tinyurl.com/yfem3w65 & http://tinyurl.com/4dw8x9sn
Chatham County Superior Court Judge John Morse, Jr., in front of Eugene Gadsden, who was the first Black Superior Court Judge in the Eastern Judicial Circuit in 1979.
See: http://tinyurl.com/bdekbsm3 & http://tinyurl.com/5t4bmuv7
Judges from the Alcovy Judicial Circuit in front of a portrait of the late Superior Court Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. In 2002, Judge Johnson was the first African-American appointed to serve as a Superior Court Judge in the Alcovy Circuit (Newton and Walton County). He served until his untimely death in 2020. His dedication to the bench and community service helped pave the way for the African-American judges who now serve in the circuit.
Left to Right, Judge Tami Wells Thomas (Magistrate Court Judge and first African-American female appointed to serve as Judge in Newton County in 2019), Judge Destiny Bryant (Associate Probate and Magistrate Court Judge), and Judge Cheveda McCamy (Superior Court Judge and first African-American female appointed to serve as Judge in 2020).
Fulton County Juvenile Court Judge Juliette Scales in front of a portrait of Judge Romae Turner Powell. Judge Powell was an advocate for juveniles in Georgia’s court system. Fulton County’s Juvenile Justice Center is named in her honor.
See: http://tinyurl.com/567en8uv & http://tinyurl.com/3nuu8tfx
Judge Rodney S. Harris in front of two longtime Gwinnett Juvenile Court Judges who helped mentor him in becoming a part of the next generation of judges. Left: Judge Stephen E. Franzen (1991-2016). Right: Judge Robert V. Rodatus (1991-2020)
State Court of Rockdale County Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. in front of the Rockdale County Courthouse, where he is the first Black State Court Judge in the county.
Fulton County Probate Court Judge Kenya Johnson with her predecessors, Judge Pinkie Toomer (2000-2020) and Judge Floyd Probst (1977-2000).
Judge Jana Edmondson Cooper (left) with Joyette Holmes, who was the first Magistrate Court Judge in Cobb County. This is a picture of the women together during Judge Cooper’s swearing-in as the new President of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys in January 2024.
Judge Monica Durden is the first Black Magistrate Court Judge in Barrow County where her family has deep roots and contributed greatly to the community.
Atlanta Municipal Court Judge JaDawnya Baker with a picture of Pro Hac Judge A.T. Walden being sworn in to the court by Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. in 1964, making him the first black judge since Reconstruction.
