Spencer Lawton is an American attorney. He was district attorney for Chatham County, Georgia, between 1981 and 2008,[1] and for the Eastern Judicial Circuit.[2] He is now a journalist for his hometown newspaper, Savannah Morning News.[3][4]
Spencer Lawton | |
|---|---|
| District attorney for Chatham County, Georgia | |
Lawton came to prominence as the prosecutor of preservationist James Arthur Williams in his trial for the alleged murder of Danny Hansford, a story documented in John Berendt's 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.[5] Lawton was renamed Finley Largent in the 1997 movie adaptation, a role played by Bob Gunton. Lawton was assisted by Dep Kirkland in the first of the four trials.[6]
Early life and career
editLawton was born to Spencer Lawton Sr.[7] (1918–1999) and Sarah "Sally" Parker (1919–2017).[8][9]
In 2008, Lawton was named District Attorney of the Year by the District Attorney's Association of Georgia.[2]
Upon his retirement, Lawton was succeeded by Larry Chisholm.[10]
Personal life
editLawton is married to Ann Woolner.[9] Through his grandmother, he is a descendent of Spencer Proudfoot Shotter (1855–1920),[11] a Canadian business magnate. He is also a relative of Alexander Lawton, a Confederate Army general and lawyer.[12]
References
edit- ^ "District attorney accused of retaliatory defamation is protected from suit, 11th Circuit says" – ABA Journal
- ^ a b "Lawton named DA of the year". The Daily Citizen. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Thomas, Regina. "Former lawmaker: Retired DA's remarks about Cook Jones 'insensitive and callous'". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Lawton, Spencer. "Georgia loses pioneer in criminal justice reform". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Boehm, Mike; Times (2002-06-08). "A Former Lawyer Tries Something New". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Kirkland, Dep (2022-02-24). ""Midnight" Marches On". Savannah Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Cooper, Polly Wylly (2002). Isle of Hope: Wormsloe and Bethesda. Arcadia Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7385-1414-7.
- ^ "Spencer Lawton '40". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ a b "Sarah Lawton Obituary (1919 - 2017) - Atlanta, GA - Savannah Morning News". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Chatham County's new DA takes office". WTOC. 2009-01-03. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Berendt, John (1994). Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Knopf Doubleday. p. 206. ISBN 9780307538376.
- ^ Lawton, Laura C. (2015-07-13). Legendary Locals of Savannah. Arcadia Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-4396-5229-9.