Alumna Miller Makes History in State of Georgia as Appeals Court Chief

In the chamber of the Georgia House of Representatives on January 6 – amid a sea of state dignitaries, family, friends and media – Mercer University undergraduate and law school alumna, M. Yvette Miller, was sworn in as the state’s first African-American woman chief judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals.

As chief judge of one of the busiest appellate courts in the United States, Judge Miller will be responsible for the administration on the court and will act as the head of the court for ceremonial purposes and for all communications. She will serve a two-year term.

“Yvette, your way has been made easier by those who came before you,” said former Gov. Roy Barnes, who first appointed Judge Miller to the state Court of Appeals in 1999. “It’s been a long journey, but you, Madam Chief Judge, are up to the task.”

In accepting the oath as chief judge, Judge Miller said she will focus her efforts on three areas: strengthening relationships between the three branches of state government and within the appellate court itself; maintaining the functional viability of the court amid tough economic times; and establishing an electric filing system for the state Court of Appeals.

“These are challenging times, and I plan to rise to the occasion,” Judge Miller said.

The state Court of Appeals has statewide appellate jurisdiction of all cases except those involving constitutional questions, land title disputes, the construction of wills, murder, election contests, habeas corpus, extraordinary remedies, divorce and alimony, and cases where original appellate jurisdiction lies with the superior courts. The state Court of Appeals may certify legal questions to the state Supreme Court.

“This is an absolutely wonderful day,” Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker said during his remarks. “This is a historical moment.”

Judge Miller has been re-elected statewide, without opposition, for two six-year terms. Before her appointment to the state court, Gov. Zell Miller appointed her to the state court of Fulton County, and she was re-elected as a trial judge on the state court without opposition. Previously, Judge Miller served as director and judge of the Appellate Division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, where she was the first woman, first African American, and youngest person ever to hold that position.

Judge Miller was born and raised in Macon. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Mercer University in 1977 and her law degree from Mercer’s Walter F. George School of Law in 1980. Judge Miller also earned an LL.M. degree in litigation from Emory University School of Law and an LL.M. degree in judicial process from the University of Virginia School of Law.

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Governor Perdue Orders Flags Lowered for Griffin Bell

Governor Sonny Perdue has ordered flags on all state buildings and grounds be flown at half-staff in memory of Griffin Bell on Wednesday, January 7, 2009, the day of his funeral. Mr. Bell served Georgia and the nation in a variety of roles including Attorney General of the United States, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and advisor to national and state leaders.

“As a respected counselor to political leaders on both sides of the political spectrum, Griffin Bell’s impact on our state and nation spanned multiple generations,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “He had a unique ability to explain complex legal matters plainly and to bring people together over even the most contentious of issues. On a personal note, I am grateful for the counsel he provided to me during my time as Governor. He and I shared a love of the outdoors especially bird hunting, and he was one of the best shots I knew even to the end. The people of Georgia celebrate the life of this extraordinary man, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

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Distinguished Mercer Alumnus And Former U.S. Attorney General Griffin B. Bell Dies At 90

Griffin Boyette Bell, one of Mercer University's most distinguished graduates and the 72nd Attorney General of the United States, died January 5 in Atlanta. He was 90. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus. Judge Bell's memorial service will be held at Atlanta's Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church on Friday at 11 a.m.

A trusted counselor to U.S. presidents, members of Congress and governors of both parties, and to major corporations and jurists across the country, Judge Bell earned his law degree, cum laude, from Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law in 1948. Appointed U.S. Attorney General by fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter in 1977, Judge Bell is credited by many with restoring integrity and transparency to the U.S. Department of Justice following the Watergate scandal.

Throughout his distinguished career as an attorney, federal judge and attorney general, Judge Bell steadfastly supported his alma mater, offering strong leadership as a trustee and helping raise more than half a billion dollars in gifts to Mercer. He served six terms on the University's Board of Trustees, dating back to 1967, and was chair of the board from 1991 to 1995.

In 1999, the Association of Governing Boards awarded its Distinguished Service Award in Trusteeship to Judge Bell in recognition of his significant contributions to Mercer and to higher education in general. From the $10,000 the University was awarded in Judge Bell's honor, the Board of Trustees voted to initiate the Griffin B. Bell Award for Community Service. The award recognizes a graduating student who has exemplified the true meaning of community service during their studies, improving the lives of others through their dedication and commitment. The Bell Award is the only University honor presented to students across all 11 of Mercer's schools and colleges.

Judge Bell was elected a Life Trustee in 2007 – only the sixth person at that time to be named to the office in Mercer's 175-year history. In 1983, he was named Mercer's first Distinguished University Professor and was a frequent lecturer and panelist at Mercer's law school over the years. Friends and colleagues raised $1 million in 1986 to establish the Griffin Boyette Bell Chair of Law at Mercer.

"Griffin Bell committed his life to service — service to his country, service to the cause of justice, service to his clients, and service to his alma mater, Mercer University. Over the past four decades, no one has been more committed to Mercer than Judge Bell, and no one has done more to advance the University," said Mercer President William D. Underwood. "I will miss his friendship. I will miss his sense of humor. I will miss his wise counsel. He was truly a great man."

Chancellor R. Kirby Godsey, who preceded Underwood as Mercer's president and worked closely with Judge Bell for 27 years, said his presidency was guided and enriched by the former board chairman's extraordinary leadership and by their "profound friendship."

"For countless hours over the years, I sat with him, seeking his sage advice, learning from his wisdom, treasuring his friendship. His thinking was always clear and precise, his voice articulate, his will resolute. Judge Bell combined a high sense of integrity with a strong measure of grace," Dr. Godsey said. "With his awe-inspiring wisdom and a rare quotient of insight, he made complex issues transparent, and he characteristically brought light and clarity amidst shadows of confusion. Griffin Bell was more than an outstanding statesman or a great American; he stood as a first citizen of the world whose voice and insights will shape human history for decades to come."

As a trustee, Judge Bell made the motion to establish the Mercer School of Medicine, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of preparing primary care physicians for rural and underserved areas of Georgia. In the late 1980s, he helped steer the University through financial difficulties, and over the years staunchly defended the institution when Georgia Baptists – with whom the University was affiliated for 173 years – sought to infringe upon Mercer's academic freedom.

As the chair of two Mercer capital campaigns, Judge Bell brought prominence and visibility, engaged major donors, and helped recruit volunteers for fund-raising efforts, in addition to sharing generously from his own financial resources. The recently completed "Advancing the Vision Campaign" – which Judge Bell chaired – raised $350 million in gifts and pledges.

At the December 2008 Board of Trustees meeting, where a bust of Judge Bell was unveiled, he reflected on his life and his long association with Mercer.

"I've had a great life — great opportunities to serve. I don't regret anything I've done. I'm well-satisfied that the Lord has given me a square deal. I've lived now to be 90 years old, and I revere all the years I've been associated with Mercer," Judge Bell said. "And also, all the years of public service I've had. And, all the years of law practice that I've had. I don't think there is any greater calling than being a lawyer and being willing to serve. There are lots of lawyers, but we don't have too many who are willing to take these public jobs. I've been able to do both, and for that I am very thankful."

A longtime senior partner at the influential, Atlanta-based King & Spalding law firm, Judge Bell on several occasions stepped away from private practice to serve his state and country.

In 1959, Judge Bell was appointed chief of staff by Gov. Ernest Vandiver and is credited with creating the General Assembly Commission on Schools, which recommended to the governor and the Georgia General Assembly that the public school system be preserved at all costs rather than close in the face of court-ordered desegregation.

In 1960, he was named co-chairman of John F. Kennedy's Georgia campaign for the presidency, and in 1961 President Kennedy appointed Judge Bell to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. While sitting as a Fifth Circuit judge, he provided steady and principled judicial leadership during the height of the American civil rights movement. After 15 years on the bench, he returned to King & Spalding in 1976. He resigned from the firm to become the 72nd Attorney General of the United States on Jan. 26, 1977. He served as attorney general until Aug. 16, 1979, when he returned to King & Spalding, serving as chair of its Policy Committee.

President Carter in 1980 asked Judge Bell to serve as head of the American delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, held in Madrid. In 1981, he served as co-chairman of the Attorney General's National Task Force on Violent Crime. In 1982, William Morrow and Company published Judge Bell's political memoir, Taking Care of the Law. In 2008, Mercer University Press published a compilation of Judge Bell's speeches, titled Footnotes to History: A Primer on the American Political Character, edited by John P. Cole.

His other public and professional service included serving as president of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1985-86; serving on the U.S. Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on South Africa from 1985-87; and serving on the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Commemoration of the United States Constitution from 1986-89.

In 1988, Judge Bell became a director of the National Science Center Foundation and was a director of the American Enterprise Institute. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush appointed Judge Bell to serve as vice chairman of the President's Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform.

Other honors include receiving the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Award for Excellence in Law in 1984; the Georgia Freedom Award from the Georgia Public Policy Foundation in 1995; and the John Marshall Medal from the John Marshall Foundation in 2008. He served on numerous corporate boards, including Martin Marietta Corp., The Hardaway Co. and Total Systems Services Inc.

Judge Bell is survived by his wife, Nancy; his son, Griffin B. Bell Jr.; daughter-in-law, Glenda Bell; and grandchildren, Griffin B. Bell III and Katherine P. Bell. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary.

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CAIR Seeks Sanctions Against Anti-Hijab Judge in Georgia

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on Georgia Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker to bring sanctions against a judge in that state who has repeatedly barred Muslim women wearing religiously-mandated headscarves, or hijabs, from entering his courtroom.

Yesterday, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported that a Muslim woman was jailed and then released following a dispute over whether she could enter the judge's courtroom in Douglasville, Ga., while wearing her hijab. In the past year, other Muslim women have either been jailed under similar circumstances or barred from that judge's court.

Today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported: "Lisa Valentine, also known by her Islamic name, Miedah, 40, was arrested at the Douglasville

Municipal Court for violating a court policy of no headgear, said Chris Womack, deputy chief of operations for the Douglasville police.

"Judge Keith Rollins ordered her held in jail for 10 days, but she was released Tuesday evening. The reason for the early release wasn't immediately clear...

"Other Muslim women said the same judge has ordered them to remove their hijabs.

"Sabreen Abdul Rahman, 55, said she was asked to take off her scarf when she went to the municipal court last week with her son. 'I can't. I'm

Muslim,' she mouthed silently to the bailiff, who then removed her from the courtroom, Rahman said...

"Halimah Abdullah, 43, said she spent 24 hours in jail in November 2007 after Rollins held her in contempt of court for refusing to remove her head covering. Rollins could not be reached for comment."

SEE: Muslim's Scarf Leads to Arrest at Courthouse (Atlanta Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/3qunxd

In a letter sent today to Attorney General Baker, CAIR National Legal Counsel Nadhira F. Al-Khalili wrote in part:

"We assert that Judge Rollins' actions violate the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct...It is also our contention that a courtroom is a 'public facility' under Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and denial of access to the courtroom based on religious beliefs or practices is therefore discriminatory.

"In addition, we believe Judge Rollins' actions are in violation of First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to freedom of religion and equal protection under the law. The United States Supreme Court has held that a state may not infringe upon the free exercise of a citizen's religious observance absent a compelling state interest. We believe that no such compelling interest exists in these cases.

"Judge Rollins' policy of exclusion would prohibit court entry to all Sikh men wearing turbans, all orthodox Jewish men and women wearing yarmulkes or head scarves, all Christian women wearing religious head coverings, and all Muslim men and women who wear skullcaps or scarves...

"I would therefore respectfully request that you take appropriate action to ensure that the legal, religious and civil rights of Georgians of all faiths be maintained. I would also request a formal investigation into this matter, sanctions where appropriate, and an assurance that all those wearing religious attire be allowed in state courtrooms."

A copy of the letter was sent to the Judicial District Professionalism Program of the State Bar of Georgia. CAIR also contacted the U.S.Department of Justice, which now says it is looking into the case.

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Alumna to Become First African-American Woman to Head Georgia Court of Appeals

Mercer University undergraduate and law school alumna, Judge M. Yvette Miller, will become the first African-American woman to hold the position of chief judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals when she is officially sworn in Jan. 6, 2009, at the Georgia State Capitol.

In October, Judge Gary Blaylock Andrews, senior judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, made the motion that unanimously selected Judge Miller, by acclamation, as chief judge of one of the busiest appellate courts in the United States. Elected by her peers to serve a two-year term, Judge Miller will be responsible for the administration on the court and will act as the head of the court for ceremonial purposes and for all communications.

“Judge Miller stands in a long line of Mercer graduates who have distinguished themselves and their alma mater through dedicated public service to our state and nation,” said Mercer President William D. Underwood. “We are very proud of Judge Yvette Miller and her accomplishments and wish her the very best as she leads the Georgia Court of Appeals.”

First appointed to the state Court of Appeals in 1999 by Gov. Roy Barnes, Judge Miller has been re-elected statewide, without opposition, for two six-year terms. Before that appointment, Gov. Zell Miller appointed her to the state court of Fulton County, and she was re-elected as a trial judge on the state court without opposition. Previously, she served as director and judge of the Appellate Division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, where she was the first woman, first African American, and youngest person ever to hold that position.

“Judge Miller personifies the Mercer Lawyer in her skills as a lawyer and judge, her commitment to justice and the public good, and her dedication to her alma maters,” said Mercer Law School Dean Daisy Hurst Floyd.

“She continues to shatter glass ceilings for women and African Americans across the country. The entire Mercer University School of Law family salutes her and this extraordinary historical feat in becoming the first African-America woman chief justice of the George Court of Appeals.”

Judge Miller was born and raised in Macon. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Mercer University in 1977 and her law degree from Mercer’s Walter F. George School of Law in 1980. Judge Miller also earned an LL.M. degree in litigation from Emory University School of Law and an LL.M. degree in judicial process from the University of Virginia School of Law.

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