Leah Ward Sears

Leah Ward Sears – the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court from 2005 to 2009. Born in Heidelberg, Germany to an army family, Sears graduated from law school in 1980. Working privately in law in the state of Georgia for 12 years, she was appointed as justice in 1992, being at that time the first woman and the youngest person on the Supreme Court of Georgia. 13 years later, she became the first black woman to serve as Chief Justice of any Supreme Court in the United States. Though now back in private practice, she is considered by some to be a candidate for the U.S Supreme Court.