Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice announces retirement
October 29, 2008 at 12:44 am by Thomas Wheatley in NewsGeorgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears says she’ll leave the highest court in the state when her term as Chief ends on June 30, 2009.
Appointed by then Gov. Zell Miller in 1992, Sears became the youngest and first woman to serve on the state Supreme Court. In 2005, she became Chief Justice — the first African-American woman in the United States to do so.
Sears’ exit also means she will step down as chair of the Judical Council of Georgia. She says she has no plans to retire and will weigh opportunities in law, business, academia or non-profit organizations.
“I believe we all have a purpose in our lives, and mine is to serve,” Sears said in a statement released by the court. “Achieving justice, equality and hope for our nation, our communities, our families – that’s what I was put here to do. And whatever I do next, I will not waver from that course.”
Sears’ name has been mentioned in some circles as a potential Supreme Court nominee should Barack Obama be elected president. Sure, you can say we’re banging the hometeam drum — yes, we were guilty of parroting the “Gov.-Perdue-might-be-McCain’s-running-mate” meme — but it merits a mention.
Full release after the jump.
*Atlanta**, **October 29, 2008** – *Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears announced today that she will leave the Supreme Court of Georgia on June 30, 2009, when her term as Chief comes to an end. She will not seek reelection when her six-year term as a justice ends Dec. 31, 2010. In stepping down, she also will no longer chair The Judicial Council of Georgia, the state agency charged with administering and improving Georgia’s courts.
Sears, 53, has served on the Court since 1992, when then Gov. Zell Miller appointed her as the first woman and youngest person ever to serve on the state Supreme Court. She became Chief Justice in 2005, becoming the first African American female Chief Justice in the United States. Under her leadership, the Georgia Supreme Court is today the most productive high court in the nation, according to a recent study by The University of Chicago Law School. During her 16 years on the Court, Chief Justice Sears has developed a national reputation for her advocacy of children and families, particularly for speaking out in favor of marriage as the most “pro-child” institution the nation has. She has developed a statewide reputation for her ability to uphold judicial independence while reaching out to the leaders of both political parties for the good of the state.
In announcing her departure from the Court, the Chief Justice emphasized that she intends to start a new chapter in her life and has no plans to “retire.” “My service on the Court has been the most challenging and rewarding time of my life,” she said. “But I believe that if we stop challenging ourselves, life can become a rut.”
Justice Sears said that in recent years, “my husband, Haskell, and I have watched our children grow up, I suffered the loss of my older brother, who died at the same age I am now, and professionally I achieved one of my lifelong dreams. I have come to realize that life has different seasons, and it is limited. It is now time for me to face new challenges and set new goals.”
Although she has not yet decided what she will do next, she wants to explore a wide range of options, several of which have been presented to her, including positions in the law, business, academia, or non-profit organizations.
“I believe we all have a purpose in our lives, and mine is to serve,” Chief Justice Sears said. “Achieving justice, equality and hope for our nation, our communities, our families – that’s what I was put here to do. And whatever I do next, I will not waver from that course.”
October 29th, 2008 at 7:52 am
[...] Georgia’s CJ is stepping down. Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears says she’ll leave the highest court in the state when her term as Chief ends on June 30, 2009. [...]
October 29th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Justice Sears has impressed the hell out of me every time I’ve seen her in action at oral argument. She would make a fantastic nominee to a federal appeals court or SCOTUS. I hope she gets the call.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
[...] Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears as a worthy nominee if a vacancy appears on the bench. Sears announced her retirement from the highest court in the state last October. She steps down on June 30. [...]