State Court Judge Jason Thompson serves the community that raised him.
Thompson was raised in Fayetteville, graduating from Fayette County High in 1993. He met his wife, Municipal Court Judge Alisha Thompson, in law school, and they live in Fayetteville, with their three children attending Fayette County Public Schools. His parents still live here and run a business with his brother, and his sister is a teacher at Starr’s Mill High.
“From where I was born to where I live now, I haven’t gone very far,” he said. “It’s always been home.”
A love of the law was stoked early. Growing up, his best friend’s dad was a lawyer, and Thompson saw how much he meant to the community.
“He was the person who could help everyone in any circumstance,” he said. “When they couldn’t get help anywhere else, they could go to him.”
He was inspired to see the responsibility placed upon lawyers.
“I knew that I wanted a profession where I could help people,” he said. “If this is what it takes to help people, this is what I’m going to do.”
Fresh out of law school, he worked for his friend’s dad, then other firms. He opened up a law practice in 2010, but an interesting opportunity changed his trajectory. He was appointed as a city court judge in Peachtree City. He worked maybe once every three months, but it was enough to whet his appetite.
“I learned to appreciate the fact that the judge is responsible to make sure that person gets their day in court.”
He wanted to learn more about being a judge and looked for more opportunities. In 2012, he was elected to Magistrate Court, then was appointed to the State Court bench by Governor Nathan Deal in 2013.
State Court meant he needed to become a full-time judge and give up his law practice. He was elected to the seat in 2014 and has to run again every four years.
“It’s a responsibility that I cherish and also makes me want to do the best job every day because, whenever I make a decision, I represent the people,” he said. “You’re very humbled to have the opportunity, and you don’t want to take it lightly because people are counting on you.”
He carries three key pieces of advice with him every day: Treat everyone in the courtroom respectfully, treat everyone equally, and, whatever decision you make, you follow the law.
He has to put his personal feelings aside and ensure that everyone involved receives a fair trial.
“It may not always be the most popular decision, but it’s the decision that needs to be made.”
Some of his proudest moments come in his work with two accountability courts: the DUI/Drug Court and the Veterans Treatment Court. In both cases, rather than sending low-level repeat offenders to jail, they are offered resources to help with the base issue. With counseling and accountability partners, they have an opportunity to get their lives back on track.
“We want you to go from being a tax waster sitting in jail to being a taxpayer, which helps you support your family,” he said. “It’s a plus-plus for the community.”
Steeped in community involvement with a number of organizations, he also can regularly be found working with school students. He often visits classes to talk law or invites them to his courtroom for mock trials. There is also a successful internship program that offers hands-on experience working in a court.
“I want to be a resource for any and all students.”
Every day, he relishes the opportunity to be a voice for his community as an elected judge.
“That’s not my courtroom. This is not my courthouse. This is everybody’s courtroom and courthouse,” he said. “I want to do the best I can for this community to make the community proud that has given so much to me. Every decision I do, that’s why I do it.”
“The Honor Role,” an official podcast for Fayette County Public Schools, features employees, rotating through key stakeholders, including teachers, staff, nurses, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers. Join us as we dive in and learn about their journeys, their inspirations, and their whys.
Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and promoted on the social media channels of Fayette County Public Schools.
Episodes will also be available here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2200811.
