If you live in Georgia, you’ve probably heard the name Leah Ward Sears. Usually, it's followed by a list of "firsts." First Black woman on the Superior Court. First woman on the state Supreme Court. Youngest ever. First Black woman to lead a state Supreme Court in the entire country.
But honestly? Reducing her to a list of historical markers kinda misses the point of who she is.
It makes her sound like a statue. A museum piece. In reality, Leah Ward Sears is one of the most intellectually disruptive forces Georgia’s legal system has ever seen. As of early 2026, she’s even stepped into the role of Interim President at Emory University, taking over during a massive leadership transition. She isn't just a pioneer; she’s a strategist who’s still very much in the game.
Why her Supreme Court years still matter
When Governor Zell Miller appointed her to the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1992, people didn't really know what to expect. She was 36. That’s incredibly young for a high court justice. Some folks thought she’d just be a reliable liberal vote. They were wrong.
Sears became known for a "strictly independent" streak that frustrated partisans on both sides. She wasn't there to follow a party line. She was there to follow the law, even when it led to uncomfortable places.
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Take the 2001 ruling on the electric chair.
For years, Georgia had used electrocution as its primary method of execution. Sears was a vocal dissenter on this for a long time. She didn't just think it was "gross"—she argued it was unconstitutionally "cruel and unusual." Eventually, the rest of the court caught up, and Georgia moved to lethal injection.
Privacy and the "Sodomy Laws"
Most people forget that before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws nationally, Georgia had its own internal battle. In the late 90s, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the state’s sodomy law violated the right to privacy found in the Georgia Constitution.
Sears’ concurrence in that case was vintage Leah: she talked about how the court’s job is to protect constitutional rights from "morals legislation." Basically, she believed the government had no business in people's bedrooms. It was a bold stance in a conservative state, and it’s why she was often targeted by political groups during her re-election campaigns.
The private practice pivot
A lot of judges retire and just... disappear into a quiet life of golf. Not Sears. After leaving the bench in 2009, she joined Smith, Gambrell & Russell (SGR) as a partner.
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She didn't just trade on her name. She became a high-stakes appellate lawyer.
If you’re a massive corporation or a city government facing a multi-million dollar verdict, you call her. Why? Because she knows exactly how the people on the other side of the bench think. She’s been there. She’s presided over mock trials for lawyers to tell them, "Hey, this argument is going to fall flat with a real judge."
- She successfully defended the City of Atlanta in a massive lawsuit regarding the airport’s fifth runway.
- She’s handled complex cases involving 9/11 property damage claims.
- She’s been a "neutral" in huge arbitrations where both sides are so angry they can't even sit in the same room.
It’s about "tactical action." That’s a phrase her colleagues at SGR use a lot. It’s not just knowing the law; it’s knowing the room.
The Emory connection: A full-circle moment
In late 2025, Emory University hit a crossroads. President Gregory Fenves was moving to a new role as Chancellor, and the school needed someone steady. They picked Sears to be Interim President.
It’s a big deal.
She’s been on the Board of Trustees since 2010, but running a university is a different beast than sitting on a court. 2025 and 2026 have been tough years for higher education—funding battles, campus protests, the rise of AI in the classroom.
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Sears has been vocal about this being a "payback" for the scholarship she received from Emory Law back in 1977. She’s essentially coming home to the place that launched her career. Her focus lately? Transparency. She’s trying to bridge the gap between the administration and the students, something she also did for the City of Atlanta when she chaired the Task Force for the Promotion of Public Trust.
What most people get wrong
The biggest misconception? That she’s a "judicial activist."
If you actually read her dissents, they are incredibly technical. She isn't trying to rewrite the world; she’s trying to hold the government to its own rules. Whether it’s questioning how trial judges are assigned or arguing for the rights of probationers against warrantless searches, her logic is usually: The Constitution says X, so you can't do Y.
She’s also surprisingly close with people you wouldn’t expect. For instance, she’s maintained a long-standing friendship with Justice Clarence Thomas. They don’t agree on everything (obviously), but they share a background of breaking through Georgia’s rigid social structures.
Actionable insights for legal followers
If you're a law student or a professional looking at her career, there are three major takeaways:
- Specialization is fine, but versatility wins. Sears didn't just stay a judge. she became a mediator, an investigator of corporate misconduct, and now a university president.
- Protect your independence. Her career survived (and thrived) because she wasn't seen as a puppet for any political wing.
- Mentorship is a "conscious effort." Sears has often said that diversity doesn't happen by accident. You have to actively bring people along, or the "ad hoc" system will just keep the status quo.
Leah Ward Sears is currently leading Emory through its 2026 academic year. Whether she stays in academia or returns to the courtroom, her fingerprint on Georgia law is permanent. She didn't just open doors; she built the hallway.
How to follow her work:
Keep an eye on the Emory University President’s office updates for her latest policy shifts on campus, or check the Smith, Gambrell & Russell appellate filings to see which major cases she’s currently steering through the 11th Circuit.