Judge Robert Benham Biography
Robert Benham is the first African-American judge to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia and the second African-American graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. He has also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve soon after he completed law school.
Robert Benham Education
Robert Benham graduated from Summer Hill High School in Cartersville in 1963, and he later joined Tuskegee University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1967, he then attended Harvard University.
In 1970 he graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law with a Juris Doctor, and he received his Master of Laws from the University of Virginia in 1989. While attending the University of Georgia, he was a member of the Demosthenian Literary Society. After he completed law school, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he attained the rank of Captain.
Robert Benham Age|Birthday
Robert Benham was born on September 25, 1946, in Cartersville, Georgia U.S.A. He is 73 years old as of 2019. He celebrates his birthday on September 25 every year.
Robert Benham Family
Robert Benham was born in Cartersville, Georgia to Jesse Knox Benham and Clarence Benham in Cartersville, Georgia.
Robert Benham Wife
Robert Benham is married to the former Nell Dodson of Cartersville and they have two sons, Corey Brevard Benham and Austin Tyler Benham. Nell is a graduate of Albany State College, and she is employed by the Department of Labor in Cartersville, Georgia. An avid woodworker, Justice Benham spends his leisure time with his sons, making wooden toys and music boxes.
Robert Benham Net Worth
Robert Benham is an African American judge who has an estimated net worth of $54 million dollars.
Robert Benham Supreme Court of Georgia
Robert Benham began his career as a judge while he briefly served as a trial attorney for Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc., later returning to Cartersville, where he engaged in the private practice of law and served as Special Assistant Attorney General. and he has served for two terms as President of the Bartow County Bar Association.
He became the first African American to establish a law practice in Bartow County. In 1984, he was appointed by Governor Joe Frank Harris to the Georgia Court of Appeals, where he served for five years following his statewide election to the court and distinguishing himself as the first African American to win a statewide election in Georgia since Reconstruction.
He was distinguished as the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia since 1989, after his appointment by Governor Harris. He then won the statewide election to a full term on the Supreme Court in 1990, where he continued as a Justice after serving as Chief Justice for six years, 1995-2001. On December 5, 2019, Benham announced he will retire on March 1, 2020.
Robert Benham Memberships
Benham is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He also holds membership in numerous professional organizations, including eight national, state, and local bar associations, the American Judicature Society, the Lawyers’ Club of Atlanta, the National Criminal Justice Association, the Georgia Bar Foundation, the Georgia Legal History Foundation (Trustee), and Scribes of The American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects.
He is the former vice president of the Georgia Conference of Black Lawyers, a former board member of the Federal Lawyers Association and of the Georgia Association of Trial Lawyers. He is also the former chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Drug Awareness & Prevention, a member of the State Bar Task Force on the Involvement of Women & Minorities in the Profession, the Georgia Commission on Children & Youth.
And he is also the former chairman of The National Association of Court Management, and a member of the National Conference of the Chief Justices, a member of the Federal-State Jurisdiction Committee, President of the Society for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Chairman of the Judicial Council, Chairman of the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, and a member of the Governor’s Southern Business Institute.
Robert Benham Office
On April 3, 1984, Justice Benham was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Joe Frank Harris. He won the statewide election and served on the Court of Appeals for five years. In December 1989, Justice Benham was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia by Governor Joe Frank Harris. He won the statewide election to a full term on the Supreme Court on July 17, 1990.
Robert Benham Retirement
He has retired 10 months before his current term ends. He said in a statement he will retire from the court on March 1 and he also announced that in April he would not seek the re-election once his current term has ended at the end of 2020. He sat for the last time on the bench of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Thursday was the last day a pillar of Georgia history heard arguments in cases.
“This has been a difficult decision. I have enjoyed every day of service to the people of Georgia, but after 34 years on the bench, it is time for me to step down,” Benham said in a statement. “Once I was at peace with this decision, I wanted to let people know as soon as possible, especially those who were hoping to run in an open election.
Furthermore, it is my hope that the timing of my retirement will cause minimal disruption to the court.” Several candidates announced they would run for Benham’s seat including Court of Appeals Judge Sara Doyle and former U.S. Rep. John Barrow. Superior Court Judge Horace Johnson and former state Rep. Beth Beskin also announced their intention to run.
The four candidates created websites in anticipation of the May race. The Chief Justice acknowledged that many don’t recognize that Justice Benham has been a fighter for decades because he is so kind, thoughtful, and soft-spoken, but the courts of Georgia are different and better “because he has always been fighting.”
With Justice Benham’s wife, Nell, in the audience, as well as a number of Court of Appeals judges and court staff, Justice Benham recounted when he first came to the state Capitol nearly 50 years ago. “I came as an intern to the governor,” he said. The governor at the time was Lester Maddox, who served from 1967-to-1971 and was a known segregationist. Governor Maddox later said to him, “Bob, I get criticized a lot for what I do. But I don’t get criticized for bringing you into state government.”
Justice Benham said that as a young man from Cartersville, he never imagined he would one day be an intern for a governor, then be appointed as a judge to the state’s intermediate appellate court, and eventually be appointed in 1989 by then-Governor Joe Frank Harris as a justice to the state’s highest court. “This is the best job I ever had,” Justice Benham said. He reminded the newly sworn-in attorneys standing before him that as judges and lawyers, “We are healers. I hope you realize your role as healers.”
Robert Benham Awards
The Georgia Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism has announced the recipients of the 21st Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service. The 21st annual Benham awards will be presented on March 14 at the Omni Hotel Atlanta at CNN Center. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony dinner will begin at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
He also received the 19th Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service these awards have been presented to honor judges and lawyers in Georgia who have made significant contributions to their communities and demonstrate the positive contributions of members of the Bar beyond their official or legal work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Robert Benham
Who is Benham?
He is the first African-American judge to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia.
How old is Robert?
He is 73 years old as of 2019.
How tall is Benham?
He has not revealed his height to the public but the information will be updated as soon as it is available.
Is Robert married?
Yes, he is married and he is married to Nell Dodson.
How much is Benham worth?
He is an African-American who has an estimated net worth of $54 million dollars
How much does Robert make?
He makes an admirable income salary of his size.
Where does Benham live?
He lives in Atlanta Georgia U.S.A.
Is Robert dead or alive?
He is still alive and in good health.