Robert Benham (judge) facts for kids

Robert Benham, born on September 25, 1946, is a retired American lawyer and judge. He worked on the Supreme Court of Georgia for more than 30 years. He retired in March 2020.

Justice Benham made history in several ways. He was the second African-American to graduate from the University of Georgia School of Law. He was also the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia. Later, he became the first African-American to be the court's Chief Justice.

Early Life and Education

Robert Benham was born in Cartersville, Georgia. His parents were Jesse Knox Benham and Clarence Benham. He has lived in Georgia his whole life.

He finished high school at Summer Hill High School in Cartersville in 1963. In 1967, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Tuskegee University. He also attended Harvard University.

Justice Benham then went to the University of Georgia School of Law. He earned his law degree (Juris Doctor) in 1970. Later, in 1989, he received a Master of Laws degree from the University of Virginia. While at the University of Georgia, he was part of the Demosthenian Literary Society.

After law school, Benham joined the United States Army Reserve. He reached the rank of Captain. He then worked briefly as a lawyer for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.. Later, he returned to Cartersville. There, he had his own law practice. He also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General. He was president of the Bartow County Bar Association for two terms. Justice Benham was the first African American to start a law practice in Bartow County.

Serving as a Judge

In 1984, Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed Justice Benham to the Georgia Court of Appeals. He served there for five years. He was elected to this court by people across the state. This made him the first African American to win a statewide election in Georgia since the Reconstruction period.

On the Supreme Court of Georgia

In 1989, Governor Harris appointed Justice Benham to the Supreme Court of Georgia. This was another historic moment, as he was the first African American to serve on this court.

He won a statewide election in 1990 to serve a full term on the Supreme Court. He continued to serve on the court until he retired on March 1, 2020. From 1995 to 2001, Justice Benham was the court's Chief Justice.

Professional Groups

Justice Benham belongs to many professional groups. These include several national, state, and local bar associations. He is also a member of the American Judicature Society. He is part of the Lawyers' Club of Atlanta and the National Criminal Justice Association.

He is a trustee of the Georgia Legal History Foundation. He is also a member of Scribes - The American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects. He used to be a vice president of the Georgia Conference of Black Lawyers. He was also on the board of the Federal Lawyers Association.

Justice Benham is a member of the State Bar Task Force on the Involvement of Women & Minorities in the Profession. He is also part of the Georgia Commission on Children & Youth. He is a member of the National Conference of Chief Justices. He is also the President of the Society for Alternative Dispute Resolution. He served as Chairman of the Judicial Council. He was also Chairman of the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism.

Benham is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.