Holmes/Hunter lecture

The "American fragmented family" is in need of repair and strong marriages are part of the solution, said Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Georgia Supreme Court.

"The concept of family is becoming fluid and the net result of family transformations means that more kids will grow up in single-parent households," Ward said, adding that she related to single parents, having been one at one time.

"I know [marriage] is not a panacea for all our problems in society, but marriage is the best anti-poverty and violence prevention that we have."

Ward said 60 percent of the civil cases at the trial court level are now about domestic issues, a percentage higher than all criminal cases combined. Despite the statistic, Ward said that "hope still exists."

"It is our job to save our country and children from self destruction," she said.

Ward, who spoke at the 24th Annual Holmes-Hunter lecture held Thursday, is retiring from the Court this June and will teach a seminar in the School of Law beginning this fall, University President Michael Adams said.

The annual lecture honors Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes, the first African-American students to attend the University in 1961.

"We have hills to climb and roads to traverse to make sure we are engaging each and every person that comes here," Adams said.

A woman of firsts herself, Ward became the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court when she was appointed in 2005, and was the youngest member ever to serve the Georgia Supreme Court in 1992. She has worked on two major initiatives, including the Georgia Supreme Court's Commission on Children Marriage and Family Law and the Committee on Civil Justice.

Growing up in the 1950s and '60s, Ward said she benefited from Holmes and Hunter-Gault and reached a defining moment when she would look over college brochures that came in the mail. Realizing that none of the students looked like her, Ward said she was determined to make a difference - and strives to through her work in the justice system.

"I knew America needed to change, and I wanted to be one of the people to help bring about change," Ward said.

Ward also gave the audience some advice, saying our society can find solutions to problems such as the fragmented family.

"You don't always have to carry a big stick. It's OK to speak up, but pick your battles," Ward said. "What we don't know how to accomplish we must learn."