NEWS & NOTES
THE HONORABLE HORACE TALIAFERRO WARD:
HOW HIS INTELLECT, INTEGRITY AND INSPIRATION
CHANGED THE WORLD
By Judge Glenda A. Hatchett
The Hatchett Firm
J
udge Horace Taliaferro Ward will be most re-
Judge Ward’s wisdom, insight and belief in a better world not
membered to the legal community as the first
only inspired me as a young lawyer, it influenced the course
African-American ever appointed to serve as a federal
of my career and life of service. He not only shared his keen
judge in the state of Georgia. However, his journey
understanding of the law with me and others in the legal com-
to the federal bench and the impact of his life of service re-
munity, he required us to embrace our humanity and to use our
verberate far beyond this highly recognized appointment
time on this earth to positively impact the lives of other people.
by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. As a direct beneficiary
Born in 1927, as the only child of Minnie Ward, and raised during
of his selfless courage and quiet, yet deliberate mentoring
the era of Jim Crow laws, Judge Ward hails from the then segre-
of so many people, I am honored to write this tribute. Not
gated public school system of LaGrange, Georgia. Just like my
only because he personally changed the course of my own
own father, Judge Ward left LaGrange to attend college in the
life, but because many people still do not know and under-
Atlanta University Center. He joined the ranks of young, highly
stand the incredible history and legacy of this amazing man.
educated and forward thinking young scholars and in many
ways helped define the mystique of the Morehouse Man. While
On April 23, 2016, the world lost a giant of man who shouldered
earning a Master’s Degree at Atlanta University (now known
generations of attorneys, judges and individuals who have
as Clark Atlanta University), Judge Ward became interested
benefitted from his extraordinary intellect, unwavering integrity
in attending law school and had a keen understanding of how
and life-changing inspiration. It was my special privilege to
the law could help change society and usher in an era of equal
have served as Judge Horace T. Ward’s first law clerk when
rights. In 1950, in spite of the University of Georgia’s policy
he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the Federal
against the admission of Black students, with the help and sup-
Board as the first Black Federal Judge in the Deep South.
port of other visionaries such as his professor William Madison
On that historic morning, Judge Ward granted me a front row
Boyd, Judge Ward formally applied to the law school at UGA.
seat literally and figuratively to history as he raised his right
hand and took the oath of office in the same courtroom where
At the time, UGA did not even review the applications of
he had been denied admission to the University of Georgia’s
Black students. However, Judge Ward insisted that his
(UGA) Law School, decades before after a courageous in-
application be judged on its merits. After more than nine
tense and protracted