Atlanta, March 20, 2023 – The portrait of the Honorable Robert Benham, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, will be presented in a special ceremony on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 2 p.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom.
Justice Benham was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1989 by then-Gov. Joe Frank Harris, making him the first African-American Justice to serve on the state’s highest court. He served as Chief Justice from 1995 to 2001 and retired from the bench in March 2020. Prior to serving on the Supreme Court, Justice Benham served five years on the Court of Appeals of Georgia, the state’s intermediate appellate court.
A native of Cartersville, Ga., Justice Benham earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Tuskegee University, a law degree from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Law degree from the University of Virginia. Justice Benham also served in the U.S. Army Reserve, attaining the rank of Captain.
Justice Benham’s wife, Nell, and his adult children, Corey and Austin, will unveil the portrait during the special session. Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs will give welcoming remarks, and former Chief Justices David E. Nahmias and Harold D. Melton will speak about their friend and colleague. The portrait was painted by artist Carol Baxter Kirby.
Press Release