Le’Joi Williamson never wanted to be anything but a lawyer. The aspiration carried from the age of eight through her graduation from Lucy C. Laney High School in 2002.
Like many people in her generation, she was inspired to pursue law after watching the show “Matlock,” she said. Once she put her mind to it, she never looked back.
Williamson has since become the first African American, and the first woman, elected judge of Richmond County Civil and Magistrate Court. She has also been selected to be part of Leadership Georgia Class of 2022.
“All of these chapters have been writing themselves because I didn’t set out to do anything in particular,” said Williamson. “I just wanted to be a lawyer. That was my heart’s desire.”
Williamson’s career journey was certainly intentional, as she took counsel from professors as a political science major at Albany State University and entered a pre-law program at University of Nebraska, ultimately earning her law degree at University of Arkansas and passing the bar in 2009.
Williamson began in prosecution, working in the solicitor general’s office in Richmond County, then in Henry County in 2012. She returned to Augusta in 2017 to work as assistant chief solicitor under Solicitor General Omeeka Loggins during Loggins’ first term.
Williamson announced her intent to run for judge in 2019, was elected in 2020 and began her term on Jan. 1, 2021. She acknowledges the historical significance of her having been elected, particularly for aspiring young black attorneys and professionals.
“For the community at large, my historic election last year was a reinforcement of the fact that whatever is it you want to do, you can do it, you’ve just got to put in the time,” said Williamson.
Williamson also notes that there would be a powerful effect on the community, particularly people in the courtroom who aren’t used to seeing an African American woman presiding. However, she says, it does not factor into how she goes about the business of being a judge.
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Williamson expresses appreciation for the role of a judge in part because it allows more space for impartiality in engaging the law and justice. She understands her role as being a kind of legal referee, contrasting it with a prosecutor representing the state’s interests and a defense attorney representing a client.
“People are expecting the judge to get it right, listen to both parties, hear everybody out, and then you make a call,” she said. “You rule on what information that has been brought to you.”
Williamson hopes to enhance her capabilities as a judge when she begins learning with Leadership Georgia in January. Leadership Georgia is a leadership training program in which professionals throughout the state, nominated by Leadership Georgia alumni, go through a rigorous application process and, if selected, undergo training five days throughout the year.
Williamson’s best friend, alumna and staff attorney Kayla Cooper, suggested she try for the program. Moved by what she had heard, Williamson used the perseverance that led her to the law profession to begin with. In 2018 she was nominated, but that was also the year she had her daughter, and so time didn’t allow for the extensive application process and caring for a newborn. In 2019 she applied but was not accepted. In 2020, the process was suspended due to COVID-19, so all nominees carried over to the 2021 application, where she was finally accepted into the 2022 class.
Williamson isn’t sure what to expect, but she’s excited.
“I’m just really going in like a sponge, like a child on Christmas Day, expecting to be completely blown away,” she said. “My goal is to go make connections, learn things, bring it back, either use it on the bench or basically give that information to the individuals I have close contact with. whatever information I can share to advance this community, that’s what I’m here to do.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
