‘The definition of hard work.’ Columbus remembers District Attorney Stacey Jackson
Stacey Jackson, District Attorney for the Chattahoochee Valley Judicial Circuit, died this past weekend leaving a hole for many throughout Columbus and the surrounding community.
Former colleagues and political officials talked about their memories and interactions with the man who left a successful defense private practice to take on the challenge of district attorney.
Shevon Thomas II was part of the last high profile trial that Jackson participated in before being appointed District Attorney. However, this wasn’t the first time they had met.
Years prior, as part of a school assignment, Thomas had written a letter to Jackson.
“I didn’t really expect anything back, and I thought he was going to be too busy,” said Thomas. “He actually showed up and I always thought that was so cool, you know, that he took time out to come speak to somebody he didn’t even know.”
After Jackson was appointed DA, Thomas helped Jackson close out some of the cases he still had active in Georgia. Thomas said he was honored that Jackson asked him to help close out the cases.
“For him to trust me with his clients, that was an honor,” Thomas said. “Stacey Jackson is the definition of hard work and preparation.”
From clerk to DA
Judge Gil McBride first met Jackson when Jackson was just out of law school and clerking for a local judge. Years later he would be swearing in Jackson to become DA.
McBride said the DA’s office was in turmoil in 2020 and the DA’s office needed stability, calmness, a sense of appreciation for the staff, and to rebuild its credibility in this community.
“He (Jackson) was exactly what the hour demanded,” said McBride. “He immediately began rebuilding the office from the damage that had been inflicted upon it.”
McBride said Jackson was very animated, was creative in presenting arguments, and was a relentless cross-examiner.
“Another thing I’ll say about Stacey, is he had a great sense of humor, which is a real asset for a courtroom, especially for a lawyer,” said McBride. “Juries tended to like him because he came across as warm, and engaging and relatable.”
He said Jackson was always prepared and that it was rare for Jackson to ask for a continuance.
As a defense attorney Jackson had an instinct for finding the “soft underbelly of the state’s case”, according to McBride.
“If there were chinks in the armor, if there were weaknesses in the state’s case he would zero in on them in a hurry,” said McBride. “You knew that a knife was getting ready to be thrown, a verbal knife.”
‘Huge loss’
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson said he always thought Jackson to be one of the top trial lawyers in Columbus.
“He was charged with trying to build back that DA’s office, and by estimation he did a great job,” said Henderson. “It’s a huge loss.”
He also released a statement that read, “His (Jackson’s) leadership greatly impacted the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, and he will be remembered for his strength and guidance when it was needed most.”
The statement continued to say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
