Leah Ward Sears

About

Attorney who served as the 30th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia from 2005 to 2009. She was the first African-American woman in United States history to hold the position of Chief Justice.

Before Fame

She graduated from both Cornell University and the Emory University School of Law. She went on to also earn a Master of Laws degree from the University of Virginia.

Trivia

After her time as Chief Justice, she taught family law at the University of Georgia Law School.

Family Life

She was born in Germany to an American military family, and she grew up primarily in Georgia, U.S.A. She had two children with her first husband, Love Collins III, and she later married Haskell Ward.

Associated With

She was a personal friend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas due in part to their shared home state.