Lisa Godbey Wood - Rotary Club of St. Simons Island

June 30, 2015
Volume 67 - Number 24
TODAY’S PROGRAM:
Lisa Godbey Wood
Chief U. S. District Judge for the Southern District of Georgia
Chief Judge Lisa Godbey Wood is a 1990 summa cum laude graduate of the University of
Georgia School of Law, and obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia
as well, finishing in 1985 as First Honor Graduate. Judge Wood served as a judicial law clerk
for the Honorable Anthony A. Alaimo, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia, for one
year before joining the Brunswick law firm of Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford and Martin in August
1991. She became a partner in her firm in 1995. In 2004, Judge Wood was sworn in as the
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. As U.S. Attorney, she was the chief federal
law enforcement officer for the forty-three counties included in the Southern District of Georgia.
In 2007, the President of the United States nominated Judge Wood to become a federal judge;
she was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. On May 5, 2010, Judge Wood was sworn
in as the District's Chief Judge. Judge Wood is married to Richard V. Wood, a retired Special
Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They reside on St. Simons Island and have twin
thirteen-year-old children.
July 7:
2014 – 2015 President Ben Lee, plus a Meet the Members talk
July 14:
2015 – 2016 President Jennifer Broadus
June 23, 2015
Members Present – 70
Prospective Member – 1
Barbara Sullivan
Last Program: June 23, 2015
6/30 Lisa Martin & Vernon Martin
7/7
JACKIE JOHNSON
John Matthews & Rick Mattox
7/14 Beverly McBride & Sharon McClellan
District Attorney – Brunswick Judicial Circuit
Visiting Rotarians – 2
Bob & Pam Harrell, Fair Play, SC
Guest – 1
Joe Woody, guest of Boo Rice
Speaker – Jackie Johnson
Reported by Jennifer Broadus
Reported by Jennifer Broadus
7/2
Tommy Stroud
7/3
Leslie Lamkin
7/5
Jean Hurst
Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson came to our podium once again after a fouryear absence. Jackie is always compelling to listen to because her stories are right out of a TV
drama – murder, violent crime, gangs, thieves, and more. Over 4,000 criminal cases cross her
desk each year, but only a fraction go to trial. She talked about recent criminal cases in Glynn
County including the Hines 8-family member murder case, which was tried in Brunswick in
2013. The defendant was up for the death penalty, but, rather than risk a hung jury outcome,
they plea-bargained for life without parole. “Our court system takes the death penalty very
CART Buckets need filling. Don’t forget now. Or you might forget later.
Bringing a guest to lunch? Contact our secretary [email protected] with your reservation
by Monday noon before our meeting. Our new policy provides that visiting Rotarians and
Member’s Guests pay $20 each at the door. Prospective members may join us for two (2)
complimentary lunches before joining. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
seriously, Johnson said. “Our judges want to make sure there is due process, without risking
a guilty offender getting a mistrial.” She added, “Currently there are no death penalty cases
pending in our system.”
“I am very pleased with the juries generated within our system,” Johnson said. “On average,
they are educated people who contribute to good jury decision-making. Our judges are
excellent and have done a great job in cleaning up the back-log of criminal cases. As a result,
our jail is not as backed up either.” When asked about other serious crime in our community,
A Rotarian Action Group is an autonomous group of Rotarians, family members, program participants
Johnson spoke about the growing juvenile gang problem.
and alumni who are experts in a particular field, such as microcredit or water and sanitation. Group members
The tragic Elkin baby killer case was an example of gang
share their expertise by collaborating with clubs and districts on service projects. For example:
•
The Rotarian Action Group for Population Growth & Sustainable Development partnered with
influence. The judge acted very quickly on that case. It was
Rotary clubs in Germany, Austria, and Nigeria to reduce maternal death by 50 percent at 10
hospitals in northern Nigeria with a program to prevent and treat obstetric fistula, a serious
brought to trial in six months with a guilty verdict.
birth injury.
Thank you, Jackie Johnson, for speaking to our Rotary
Join a Rotarian Action Group to share your expertise and make a difference in projects beyond your club or
[Congratulations
to
John
Gibson
on
the
birth
of
his
first
grandson,
Gibson
John
Price,
born
October
17, 2014 to Lucy (Gibson) and Aaron Price.
district. To get involved, check our group directory on the RI website and contact the one you’re interested in.
Club once again.
To start a group you need at least 25 prospective members representing at least five countries. Prospective
groups are reviewed by the RI Board of Directors. Contact [email protected] for help with your
proposal.
Jackie Johnson with Gary Schwartz