Beverly Martin, President Barack Obama’s nominee for the federal appeals court, is a fourth-generation lawyer who has authored a number of notable rulings as a U.S. District Court judge in Atlanta.

She penned a blistering dissent in an excessive-use-of-force case and declared a mandatory 30-year prison sentence unconstitutional on grounds it was cruel and unusual punishment.

Lawyers who appear before Martin say she has a fierce determination to do what she thinks is right and say she has a quality Obama says he wants in his judicial nominees: empathy. The Senate will vote on her confirmation Jan. 20

In Wednesday's AJC, we'll tell you Martin's story and how she doesn't flinch in the face of controversy.

About the Author

Featured

The DeKalb school district is suing to recover money spent on cellphone lockers, plus money spent on implementing social media guidelines and hosting associated events, lost teaching time and to hire extra school counselors. (The New York Times file)

Credit: NYT