The Judge John H. Ruffin Court House will also be named the Augusta Judicial Center after city leaders struck a compromise.

Click on image to read full article.

A Waynesboro native, Judge Ruffin started his law career as an Augusta civil rights attorney, filing the lawsuits that desegregated school systems in Richmond and Burke counties. He was an Augusta Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge until 1994, when Gov. Zell Miller appointed him to the appeals court. He served as the court’s chief judge in 2005 and 2006.

He was the first black member of the Augusta Bar Association, the first black Augusta Superior Court judge, the first black Court of Appeals chief judge and, in 2008, he became the first black attorney to have his portrait hung in Waynesboro courthouse.

Related posts:

1. Superior court Judge looks to become first black to serve on the Boston appeals court The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a confirmation hearing...
2. A ’supreme’ judge retires her gavel after a life of firsts Since she was a teenager, state Superior Court Judge Renee...
3. Miss. Gov. Barbour appoints his 1st black judge Malcolm O. Harrison Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour named a black lawyer to a...
4. Senate confirms Berger as W.Va.’s first black federal judge The U.S. Senate on Tuesday made Kanawha County Circuit Court...
5. Judge Mathis Reaches Out With ‘Jail To Judge’ Message Television Judge Greg Mathis shares the story of his own...