ROCKDALE COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Feb. 5, 2025
Judge Maureen E. Wood Makes History as Rockdale County’s First African American Superior Court Judge
ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Judge Maureen E. Wood made history in May 2024 when she was elected as Rockdale County’s first African American Superior Court Judge. Her election marks a significant milestone for the community, not only for her personal achievement but also for the ongoing progress in the county’s judicial landscape. With this appointment, Rockdale County now has two women serving on the Superior Court bench for the first time in history.
Wood’s journey to the Superior Court began with an impressive educational and professional foundation. A proud graduate of Spelman College, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree before continuing her legal studies at the University of Tennessee College of Law. After law school, Wood went into private practice with her husband, David Wood, before being appointed by then-Chief Superior Court Judge David B. Irwin in 2016 to serve as the county’s first African American Juvenile Court Judge.
Reflecting on her legal career, Judge Wood has often described herself as a “public servant dedicated to serving the people in my own community.” Raised in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Wood comes from a family deeply rooted in the civil rights movement. Her grandfather, Robert W. Scales, made history as the first African American elected to the Murfreesboro City Council and the first African American Vice Mayor. Her grandmother, Mary C. Scales, also broke barriers as the first African American elected to the City Council and the first African American professor at Middle Tennessee State University.
“I was raised in a family where education and servant leadership were commonplace,” Judge Wood shared. “I am truly honored to be Rockdale County’s first African American Superior Court Judge, and I stand on the shoulders of my family and the many leaders who came before me.”
Wood joins a distinguished list of African Americans who have made their mark on the county’s courts. In 2012, Phinia Aten became the first African American Magistrate Court Judge, Charles Mays became the first African American Probate Court Judge, and in 2021, Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. was appointed as the County’s first African American State Court Judge.
On the federal level, Thurgood Marshall became the first African American Supreme Court Justice in 1967. More recently, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made history in 2022 as the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. As of recent data, black women comprise only 4% of the judiciary nationwide.
The significance of celebrating African Americans in the judiciary cannot be overstated. Diverse benches provide more inclusive representation and help ensure equitable outcomes for all citizens. When courts reflect the diversity of the people they serve, it fosters trust and confidence in the justice system.
As Judge Wood begins her term on the Superior Court bench, she reflects on the legacy she is building and the responsibility that comes with it. “It’s about standing for the community, making decisions that serve everyone fairly and justly,” she said. “And it’s about ensuring that the next generation sees that their dreams are possible, regardless of their background.”
Judge Maureen E. Wood’s historic election as Rockdale County’s first African American Superior Court Judge is a triumph for the community and a reminder of how far the legal profession has come. It also serves as an inspiration for future generations of African American leaders in law.
For more information, please contact Judge Wood at (770) 278-7690 or maureen.wood@rockdalecountyga.gov.
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