Georgia's first black Supreme Court justice to step down

Associated Press
FILE - In a July 16, 2007 file photo, Supreme Court of Georgia Justice Robert Benham presides over a hearing, in Atlanta. Justice who became the first African American to serve on the Georgia Supreme Court, plans to step down in 2020 after serving three decades on the high court., (AP Photo/Zachary D. Porter, Pool, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — A jurist who became the first African American to serve on the Georgia Supreme Court plans to step down after serving three decades on the high court.

The court said in a news release Friday that Justice Robert Benham has announced he'll leave the court next year rather than seeking reelection to another six-year term. He was appointed to the court in December 1989 by then-Gov. Joe Frank Harris.

The release says Benham is now 72 and has been telling people for a while that this would be his last term as he would reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 shortly after beginning a new term if he ran again.

His successor will be selected in a statewide election in May 2020.