Life on the Bench

Jean Bolin (’77) is juvenile court judge for Atlantic Circuit

Everyone is responsible for his or her own destiny. I try to instill this idea in children, to help them see they can always become something significant and make something meaningful with their life.”

These encouraging words might be expected from a teacher or a parent or a minister… but what about a juvenile court judge? For Shorter College alumna the Hon. Jean Jordan Bolin (’77), it is exactly this philosophy that has made the difference in her life. She uses her role in the community to improve children’s opportunities.

However, Jean does not simply talk the talk. She is an impressive example of a woman who walks the walk. She was the first in her family to attend college; she began a career-changing law degree at age 40; and in August 2006, she was appointed as a juvenile court judge for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit. Throughout her life journey, Jean has come to understand and embrace the encouraging wisdom she shares from the bench.

Foundations on the Hill

Her story begins in a rural community in South Georgia. College was a dream that seemed extremely difficult – if not impossible – to achieve. Her parents worried about her attending college because of the images they saw on television of riots and violence on college campuses of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They feared for her safety. Additionally, she did not know anyone with a degree other than her schoolteachers.

Then things began to fall into place. In 1973 Jean had never even visited Northwest Georgia, but an admissions counselor from Shorter assured her that travel would be coordinated to fit her needs. “The next four years were absolutely wonderful,” Jean reminisced about her Shorter experience. “It was my first time away from home, and the years at Shorter became four of the most important years of my life. I grew so much because of the nurturing campus community that equipped me to see the countless opportunities I could pursue.”

Her positive experience on the Hill was not solely a result of assignments in the classroom or relationships with classmates. Jean was influenced and supported by Shorter’s faculty and staff. “The moment I arrived on campus, the welcoming arms of faculty like Betty Zane Morris (’55) and Dr. Joe Baskin made my transition to campus very comfortable.”

An unexpected surgery during her freshman year provided Jean the opportunity to experience the caring faculty first hand. “I had four siblings at home in South Georgia, so my parents could not stay with me in Rome while I was in the hospital, but Wilson and Thelma Hall sort of adopted me. They brought me Thanksgiving dinner. They assured my parents I’d be okay. They were wonderful. My parents were so impressed!

“I soon learned that my experience with exceptional faculty wasn’t unusual; instead, it was the nature of the school. Throughout my years at Shorter, I witnessed many occasions where Shorter’s administration, staff and faculty went beyond the call of duty to assist students. It is one of the reasons I have always loved Shorter.”

Jean’s appreciation for her alma mater continues today because she recognizes that students are blessed to have the opportunity to study at Shorter. “Today’s college seems to have maintained the close community atmosphere that I adored, and it has also grown into an impressive academic, artistic and athletic reputation. I thoroughly enjoyed being at Shorter and still appreciate the growth it provided.”

Opportunities on the Coast

After a full college experience – from being a member of the Epsilon Sigma sorority to being a little sister of the Alpha Gamma Omega fraternity, and from being a communications major to being named homecoming queen her senior year – Jean decided to move to the coastal community of Brunswick, Ga., following graduation. She got married 16 months later, and life was good for Jean. Her first job out of college was producing video programs for the regional library where she worked. She went on to enjoy a number of successful careers including public relations, newspaper editing, photography, and finally, working for a large industrial company.

Because things were going so well, she continued to file a dream in the back of her mind. “I was not happy in my current position. I’d been toying with a lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer, and on my 40th birthday, I walked into my supervisor’s office and announced, ‘I’m leaving. I’m going to law school.’ This was the first time I’d actually said it out loud.”

As Jean was considering which law school to attend, her husband suggested Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Fla. This was a new school 97 miles away from her home in Darien, Ga. Because the school was so new, it had yet to be accredited, and Jean realized the risk she took if she enrolled at this school. However, “the moment I sat down [at Florida Coastal], I knew this was where I needed to be.” Her instincts were correct because Florida Coastal received accreditation by the American Bar Association in 1999, and Jean was part of its first graduating class.

Although most of her days began with studying at 4 a.m. before commuting the one and a half hours to her 8 a.m. class, Jean enjoyed her studies. “My experience was awesome. Sometimes I wondered what I was doing, but then I realized that I was being allowed to do something no one in my family had been able to do.”

She credits her determination and perseverance to the support and encouragement of her husband. He was her inspiration in many ways because he had gone to nursing school following his 40th birthday a few years prior. Now a registered nurse, he understood the support Jean required to achieve her dream as well.

“He was forever encouraging me and was willing to do what was necessary while I was in school, and I’m so grateful because he was the push I needed.”

With law degree in hand, Jean began her new career in a small attorney practice and then transitioned into the newly revamped Georgia public defender system. “At that point, things began to move very quickly,” recalls Jean.

A mentor judge encouraged her to consider yet another career transition, saying Jean should apply for juvenile court judge. “He told me that I was well suited for the position, I would enjoy the role, and they needed me. So, I applied.” Jean was selected and sworn in as a judge of juvenile courts in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit on Aug. 31, 2006. Today, she is responsible for the juvenile courts in McIntosh and Bryan Counties.

Impacts from the Bench

Her role has brought her full circle, from the student seeking growth to the adult instituting change. “Being a judge allows me to give something back to the community, and I greatly appreciate that privilege,” Jean explained.

Her philosophy on the bench is one of sincere service. She works to make a difference and share her values with others. “There’s a need for strong Christian leadership on the bench, as well as in our schools and our homes.

“I believe I need to encourage teachers, community leaders, Sunday School teachers and other influential role models. If a child is willing, there are opportunities available. Together, we have to find a way to show that child how to do it.”

Jean knows from personal experience the need for solid foundations for children’s success. “I came from a very strong and loving family background. I have lots of nieces and nephews, and I watch their lives and their growth. The institutions of home, family, church and school that have been such cornerstones for me and for them are not present in many of the children’s lives that I see in court. I try to apply the principles of nurturing my nieces and nephews to other children’s lives who don’t have the support system in place.

“The key is to stick with them long enough that you open up awareness inside of them,” Jean continued. “You can make a difference in a child’s life, even if that child has been involved with the law.

“I see many abused and deprived kids. If the kids say, ‘I can get past this,’ some parents cannot. Through court intervention I can sometimes facilitate change, recovery and improvement.”

Dreams and results. Initiative and persistence. Jean’s willingness to pursue her goals and to help others will continue to benefit communities along Georgia’s coast. Her work as a juvenile court judge is clearly a service of love. “I like to think that juvenile court does make a difference. I want these kids to know that I care about them. To me everyone of them is worth the effort.”

View entire list of headline articles