Ken Hodges
{{short description|American politician}}
{{For|the British cinematographer|Ken Hodges (cinematographer)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ken Hodges
| image = Hodges10.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| order = Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals
| term_start = January 1, 2019
| term_end =
| predecessor = John J. Ellington
| order1 = District Attorney Dougherty County, Georgia
| term_start1 = January 7, 1996
| term_end1 = October 1, 2008
| birth_name = Kenneth Bryant Hodges, III{{cite web | url=https://got.law/attorney/kenneth-bryant-hodges-iii/ | title=Got.Law Lawyer Kenneth Bryant Hodges III - Atlanta, Georgia }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1965|09|22}}
| birth_place = Albany, Georgia
| occupation = Lawyer
| alma_mater = Emory University (BA)
University of Georgia (JD)
| spouse = Melissa Hodges
| website = [http://www.kenhodges.com Ken Hodges for Georgia Court of Appeals]
}}
Kenneth (Ken) B. Hodges III (born September 22, 1965) is a judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals. He also served as Dougherty County District Attorney and later ran as the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Georgia in 2010. In 2015, Hodges started his own law firm, Ken Hodges Law, based out of Atlanta and Albany. In 2018, he won an open seat in a contested race on the Georgia Court of Appeals, earning nearly 70% of the statewide vote.
Hodges was born and raised in Albany, Georgia and went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and sociology from Emory University in 1988 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1991. His wife, Melissa, grew up in Gwinnett County, graduated from The Marist School in Atlanta, and earned her bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana. A former television journalist, she is now a media consultant. The couple was married in 2004 and currently live in Albany, Georgia, with their daughter and son.
Career
After graduating from law school at the University of Georgia, Hodges worked at an Atlanta law firm before returning to his hometown of Albany, Georgia, in 1996 to run a successful campaign for Dougherty County District Attorney.{{cite web|url=http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/1996_1105/judicial.htm|title=11/5/96 – Judicial|website=Sos.ga.gov|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=2018-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230160935/http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/1996_1105/judicial.htm|url-status=dead}} Hodges served as District Attorney for 12 years, gaining re-election in 2000 and 2004.{{cite web|url=http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/2000_0718/judicial.htm|title=7/18/00 – Judicial|website=Sos.ga.gov|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=2018-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120152347/http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/2000_0718/judicial.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/2004_0720/judicial.htm|title=7/20/04 – Judicial|website=Sos.ga.gov|access-date=2019-01-05|archive-date=2018-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204102145/http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/2004_0720/judicial.htm|url-status=dead}}
During his career as lawyer and prosecutor, Hodges has argued in front of the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} Hodges was instrumental in the 2002 prosecution of Sidney Dorsey, a former DeKalb County Sheriff who ordered the assassination of his successor, Derwin Brown.{{cite news |author=Smith, Ben |title=Albany setting might work against Dorsey |work =The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia) |date=2002-06-30}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/18/us/former-sheriff-goes-to-trial-in-georgia-in-successor-s-killing.html | work=The New York Times | title=Former Sheriff Goes To Trial in Georgia In Successor's Killing | date=2002-06-18 | accessdate=2010-05-07}} Ultimately, Dorsey was found guilty on eleven counts, including murder and racketeering, and was sentenced to a term of life without parole.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/11/us/former-sheriff-guilty-in-successor-s-killing.html | work=The New York Times | title=Former Sheriff Guilty in Successor's Killing | date=2002-07-11 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}
Ken Hodges also served as President of the Georgia District Attorney's Association and in 2002 was recognized as Georgia's District Attorney of the Year.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} He has also chaired the Prosecuting Attorney's Council (PAC), and is a Fellow of the Lawyer's Foundation of Georgia.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
He is a graduate of Leadership Albany and Leadership Georgia, and was on the board of trustees for Leadership Georgia. He has been listed on Georgia Trend Magazine's "40 under 40"{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} and the Fulton County Daily Report's "Attorneys on the Rise."{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
Ken Hodges is past Secretary and Board of Trustees member for the Urban League of Atlanta.{{cite web|url=http://ulgatl.org/about/board/|title=Urban League of Greater Atlanta – Board of Directors|website=Ulgatl.org}}
In August 2009, as candidate for Georgia Attorney General, Hodges received the endorsement of Andrew Young, former Mayor of Atlanta and United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter. Young praised Hodges for "his commitment to equal rights and the fair application of justice during his years of service in Albany."{{Cite web |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/young-endorses-hodges-for-117788.html#story-continued |title=Young endorses Hodges for attorney general | ajc.com |access-date=2009-10-26 |archive-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629122618/http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/young-endorses-hodges-for-117788.html#story-continued |url-status=dead }} Hodges has also received the endorsements of former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, the first African-American female Chief Justice in the United States,{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/2009/09/15/sears-endorsing-hodges-for-attorney-general/ |title=Sears endorsing Hodges for attorney general | Gold Dome Live |access-date=2010-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229192358/http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/2009/09/15/sears-endorsing-hodges-for-attorney-general/ |archive-date=2010-12-29 |url-status=dead }} Mark Taylor, former lieutenant governor of Georgia,{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/07/15/endorsement-fever-roy-barnes-tightens-his-grip-and-sam-olens-shows-gop-depth/ |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Political Insider |title=Endorsement fever: Roy Barnes tightens his grip, and Sam Olens shows GOP depth |date=2010-07-15 |accessdate=2010-07-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719033854/http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/07/15/endorsement-fever-roy-barnes-tightens-his-grip-and-sam-olens-shows-gop-depth/ |archivedate=2010-07-19 }} and Sam Nunn, former United States Senator from Georgia.{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/10/28/your-morning-jolt-maynard-jacksons-daughter-to-endorse-kasim-reed/ |title=Your morning jolt: Maynard Jackson's daughter to endorse Kasim Reed | Political Insider |access-date=2010-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201123151/http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/10/28/your-morning-jolt-maynard-jacksons-daughter-to-endorse-kasim-reed/ |archive-date=2009-12-01 |url-status=dead }}
In the Democratic primary, Hodges defeated state Representative Rob Teilhet In spite of these endorsements, Hodges lost the 2010 general election to Cobb County Commissioner Sam Olens.
In January 2011, Hodges joined the Atlanta law firm Rafuse Hill & Hodges, LLP{{Cite web |url=http://www.rafusehill.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2022-06-27 |archive-date=2021-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515231925/http://rafusehill.com/ |url-status=dead }} as a partner in the litigation division.{{cite web|url=https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/?origin=NewsFile&l=nf1137110|title=Daily Report|website=Daily Report}} Rafuse Hill & Hodges had a national litigation practice focusing on employment, civil rights, product liability, and commercial disputes.
In 2013, Hodges was honored by the State Bar of Georgia's Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession with the Commitment to Equality Award. Hodges was selected for the honor because of "his contributions to the advancement of diversity, including his prior service as District Attorney for the Dougherty Judicial Circuit, hiring as his chief assistant the African American prosecutor who later became his successor. During his three terms, Hodges had one of the most proportionately diverse offices in the state and, in many instances, helped his minority assistants move on to become federal prosecutors or secure positions in private practice. As district attorney, he maintained an internship program with Albany State University, one of Georgia's historical black universities."{{cite news|url=https://www.albanyherald.com/news/local/former-dougherty-d-a-hodges-honored/article_283f44fd-244e-5a7c-a5d4-54fbfe9898c2.html|title=Former Dougherty D.A. Hodges honored|newspaper=Albany Herald}}
In 2013, Hodges was elected by Georgia's attorneys to serve on the executive committee of the State Bar of Georgia. Hodges currently serves on the board of governors for the State Bar of Georgia, and multiple committees, including the Advisory Committee on Legislation. He was sworn in as President of the State Bar of Georgia in June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.gabar.org/aboutthebar/statebarexecutivecommittee.cfm|title=State Bar Executive Committee|website=Gabar.org}}
In 2013, Hodges was elected by Georgia's attorneys to serve on the executive committee of the State Bar of Georgia. Hodges currently serves on the board of governors for the State Bar of Georgia, and multiple committees, including the Advisory Committee on Legislation. He was sworn in as president of the State Bar of Georgia in June 2018.
Controversial actions
= As district attorney =
As district attorney, he requested a search of a physician's phone records, against the physician—who questioned certain billing practices at the local hospital Phoebe Putney.{{Cite web|url=http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/02/01/the-curious-case-of-ken-hodges-your-democratic-candidate-for-attorney-general/|title=The curious case of Ken Hodges: your Democratic candidate for Attorney General|date=February 1, 2010|website=Peachpundit.com|access-date=December 15, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222115134/http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/02/01/the-curious-case-of-ken-hodges-your-democratic-candidate-for-attorney-general/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.peachpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Hodges4.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-12-15 |archive-date=2015-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092449/http://www.peachpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Hodges4.pdf |url-status=dead }} Hodges was personally sued, successfully, in the same district court in Albany, but because the case finally impinged on "absolute immunity for grand jurors", the district court decision went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, where it was then overturned.{{Cite web|url=https://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2011/11/albany-faxers-case-wound-supreme-court/|title=How Albany fax case landed in Supreme Court|website=Georgiahealthnews.com|date=November 4, 2011}}
= As attorney and judge-elect =
In an ongoing action in the Dougherty County Superior Court (where Hodges was DA), the plaintiff claimed that Hodges was appointed improperly as the receiver of an apartment complex called Gardens on Whispering Pines, and also acted improperly because he had previously served as attorney facilitating the sale of the real estate in question. Subsequently, James B. Holloway filed an appeal against Hodges {{Cite web |url=https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=15211391-1ca8-409c-9873-5fa21aaa603e |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-02-21 |archive-date=2018-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614044633/https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=15211391-1ca8-409c-9873-5fa21aaa603e |url-status=dead }} in the same Court where Hodges won the election to replace the judge.
Hodges has been accused of ethical violations and is being sued for millions of dollars in the Dougherty County Superior Court. (17-cv-1456). The plaintiffs allege that Hodges communicated with Judge Willie Lockette to improperly place the apt complex into receivership, and then denied under oath to Senior Judge L. A. McConnell that he had no professional or personal dealings with a Stephen Bacon in the matter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/lawsuit-accuses-new-appeals-court-judge-conflict-interest/LfRwXkKz6wRoXhUkCTrukJ/|title=Lawsuit accuses new Ga. Appeals Court judge of conflict of interest|author=Johnny Edwards|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} Additionally he has been accused of calling the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) in the selection of judges who might rule favorably in the case.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/judge-says-jqc-ordered-him-off-case-involving-influential-attorneys/0x0TGJO85jZObrDAXvd8lK/|title=Judge says JQC director ordered him off case involving influential attorneys|first=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last=Johnny Edwards|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}
References
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{{s-bef|before=Thurbert Baker}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Georgia|years=2010}}
{{s-aft|after=Greg Hecht}}
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Category:District attorneys in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Georgia (U.S. state) state court judges
Category:Georgia (U.S. state) Democrats