Leah Ward Sears
Leah Ward Sears 30th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia In office June 28, 2005 – June 30, 2009 Appointed by Zell Miller Preceded by Norman S. Fletcher Succeeded by Carol Hunstein Personal details Born (1955-06-13) June 13, 1955 (age 59) Heidelberg, Germany Spouse(s) Haskell Ward Alma mater University of Virginia School of Law (LL.M.) Emory University School of Law (J.D.) Cornell University (B.S.) Leah Ward Sears (born June 13, 1955) is an American jurist and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Sears was the first African-American female Chief Justice in the United States. When she was first appointed as justice in 1992 by Governor Zell Miller, she became the first woman and youngest person to sit on the Georgia's Supreme Court.