Ken Hodges
Encyclopedia
Kenneth B. Hodges III is the former District Attorney
for Dougherty County
, Georgia
in the United States and was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Georgia
in 2010, ultimately losing his bid.
in 1988 and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law
in 1991. His wife, Melissa, grew up in Gwinnett County
and graduated from The Marist School in Atlanta. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College
, Notre Dame, Indiana
and worked as a television news anchor and reporter. The couple was married in 2004 and currently live in Atlanta with their daughter and son.
, Hodges worked at an Atlanta law firm before returning to his hometown of Albany, Georgia
, in 1996 to run a successful campaign for District Attorney. Hodges served as District Attorney for 12 years, gaining re-election in 2000 and 2004.
During his career as attorney and District Attorney for Dougherty County, Hodges has argued in front of the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. Hodges was instrumental in the 2002 prosecution of Sidney Dorsey
, a former DeKalb County Sheriff who ordered the assassination of his successor, Derwin Brown
. Ultimately, Dorsey was found guilty on eleven counts, including murder and racketeering.
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. He has also chaired the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council (PAC), and is a Fellow of the Lawyer’s Foundation of Georgia.
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” and the Fulton County Daily Report’s “Attorneys on the Rise.”
In August 2009, Candidate 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.”
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, Mark Taylor
, former lieutenant governor of Georgia, and Sam Nunn
, former United States senator from Georgia.
In January of 2011, Hodges joined Atlanta law firm Ashe, Rafuse & Hill, LLP as a partner in the litigation division. Ashe, Rafuse & Hill has a national litigation practice focusing on employment, civil rights, products liability and commercial disputes.
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Dougherty County
Dougherty County, Georgia
Dougherty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 96,065. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 95,859. It is included in the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in the United States and was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Georgia
Attorney General of Georgia
The attorney general of Georgia is the chief law enforcement officer and lawyer for the U.S. state of Georgia. The attorney general is elected to a four-year term at the same time as elections are held for Governor and other offices....
in 2010, ultimately losing his bid.
Background
Hodges was born and raised in Albany, Georgia and went on to receive his bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology from Emory UniversityEmory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in 1988 and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
in 1991. His wife, Melissa, grew up in Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County, Georgia
, Gwinnett County had a population of 805,321. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 53.3% white , 23.6% black , 2.7% Korean, 2.6% Asian Indian, 2.0% Vietnamese, 3.3% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.8% some other race and 3.1% from two or more races...
and graduated from The Marist School in Atlanta. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College
Saint Mary's College (Indiana)
Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. It is located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community northeast of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States — as are the University of Notre Dame and Holy...
, Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place north of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States; it includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Notre Dame is split between Clay and Portage Townships...
and worked as a television news anchor and reporter. The couple was married in 2004 and currently live in Atlanta with their daughter and son.
Career
After graduating from law school at the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
, Hodges worked at an Atlanta law firm before returning to his hometown of Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
, in 1996 to run a successful campaign for District Attorney. Hodges served as District Attorney for 12 years, gaining re-election in 2000 and 2004.
During his career as attorney and District Attorney for Dougherty County, Hodges has argued in front of the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. Hodges was instrumental in the 2002 prosecution of Sidney Dorsey
Sidney Dorsey
Sidney Dorsey served as sheriff of DeKalb County, Georgia from 1996 to 2000. Dorsey was the first African-American to serve as sheriff of DeKalb County and was married to Atlanta city councilwoman Sherry Dorsey...
, a former DeKalb County Sheriff who ordered the assassination of his successor, Derwin Brown
Derwin Brown
Derwin Brown was a police captain and the sheriff-elect of DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, who was assassinated on the evening of December 15, 2000.-Early life:...
. Ultimately, Dorsey was found guilty on eleven counts, including murder and racketeering.
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. He has also chaired the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council (PAC), and is a Fellow of the Lawyer’s Foundation of Georgia.
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” and the Fulton County Daily Report’s “Attorneys on the Rise.”
In August 2009, Candidate Hodges received the endorsement of Andrew Young
Andrew Young
Andrew Jackson Young is an American politician, diplomat, activist and pastor from Georgia. He has served as Mayor of Atlanta, a Congressman from the 5th district, and United States Ambassador to the United Nations...
, former Mayor of Atlanta and United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. Young praised Hodges for “his commitment to equal rights and the fair application of justice during his years of service in Albany.”
Hodges has also received the endorsements of former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears
Leah Ward Sears
Leah Ward Sears is an American jurist and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Sears was the first African-American female Chief Justice in the United States...
, the first African-American female Chief Justice in the United States, Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor (politician)
Mark Fletcher Taylor is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. He served two terms between 1999 to 2007 as the tenth Lieutenant Governor of Georgia...
, former lieutenant governor of Georgia, and Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
, former United States senator from Georgia.
In January of 2011, Hodges joined Atlanta law firm Ashe, Rafuse & Hill, LLP as a partner in the litigation division. Ashe, Rafuse & Hill has a national litigation practice focusing on employment, civil rights, products liability and commercial disputes.