Knights in the Courtroom

JudgeStephenN.

KnightsJr.andhis CommitmenttoJustice

Judge Stephen N. Knights Jr. is one of Henry County's elected state judges who believes that his role as a civil servant is a noble calling. The passion for the legal profession in this Guyanese-born magistrate began at the young age of five, which isn't surprising considering his father was a judge. This affinity can be attributed to his time shadowing his father and watching legal TV shows like "Perry Mason," "Matlock," "T.J. Hooker," and the infamous O.J. Simpson Trial, all of which fueled his fascination with practicing law.

Knights attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and his extensive career as an attorney underscores his belief in the importance of legal representation. "A lawyer is always a valuable asset in any area and is the best person to guide someone through the legal process," he states. After settling in Georgia, Knights assumed various legal roles, including Assistant Solicitor General for Clayton County in 2006, District Attorney for Griffin County's Judicial Circuit Court as a drug prosecutor in 2007, and Clayton's Senior Litigation Assistant District Attorney in 2009. He also worked at his wife's private practice, Knights Law Group, as a Senior Litigation Attorney. This period overlapped with his time serving as a Clayton County Associate Magistrate Judge, making his transition to a state judge role in Henry County seamless.

Judge Knights, a respected figure in the legal community, has witnessed numerous judges preside over court proceedings throughout his career. For him, being fair, impartial, respectful, punctual, and lawful are pivotal qualities of a good judge.

When individuals step into his courtroom, they can anticipate encountering a compassionate judge who adheres to the Golden Rule: "People are people. They are not just a number, a case on the docket, or merely individuals being accused." Nevertheless, the role does bring unexpected challenges.

Amid the COVID pandemic, in-person appearances were suspended, and video communications became the norm. This compelled Judge Knights to adapt to technology. "It was a unique time and gave me a good handle to multitask and a unique skill set."

Beyond his courtroom duties, Judge Knights is attuned to community needs. He firmly believes in the power of education and launched the program "Interacting with the Police" in 2014. The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between law enforcement and citizens.

His prior experience as an Auxiliary Police Officer with the New York Police Department provided valuable insights. "Many law enforcement situations stem from misunderstandings. Recognizing this need was important. I initiated this as a volunteer program, partnering with library systems to offer a free one-hour informational seminar."

He engaged law enforcement officials and police officers to contribute to the initiative, which focused on educating the public about fourth amendment rights. Unfortunately, COVID interrupted the program's continuation. Judge Knights hopes to revive his mission of public legal education by collaborating with local community leaders and library systems in the near future.

The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia has a new Lodge in Henry County. On June 16, 2022, at the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia's 151st Grand Session, through the leadership and vision of Brother Matthew Lewis, Brother Reggie R Walker and Brother John K Bailey, James Earl Acey Lodge #600 PHA received their Charter The Honorable Corey D Shackleford Sr presided as their 18th Most Worshipful Grand Master. Rising Sun Foundation is their associated non-profit organization. Their journey started back in September 2018 with an inquiry and request to establish a new lodge. They were issued a dispensation by Grand Master CoreyShacklefordSr.inMarch2020.While“UnderDispensation” they focused on serving the community of Henry County and represented this illustrious organization to the fullest. For example, they volunteered at Commissioner Clemmons’ Toys DriveandtheToysforTotswarehouse,donatedschoolsupplies and COVID cleaning supplies to Fairview Elementary School, adopted a road in Stockbridge for trash pickup, made donations to senior centers, and held register-to-vote rallies in Henry County They have established an Annual Golf TournamentFundraiserandcompletedmanyothercommunity serviceprojectswithintheHenryCountyCommunity

James Earl Acey Lodge No. 600 PHA sends appreciation to the Most Worshipful Prince HallGrandLodgeofGeorgiaandtotheHonorableCoreyD.ShacklefordSr.the18thMost Worshipful Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of Georgia for the opportunity to serve the Henry County community. "Men of Vision” James Earl Acey Lodge No. 600 PHA Stockbridge,Ga.

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