Dougherty County’s first African American District Attorney in 2008. Edward’s career began in 1983 when he graduated from Mercer University’s School of Law. “My career took me to Georgia Legal Services, where I worked as a staff attorney, and the work that I did primarily focused on representing people who could not afford attorneys in civil matters,” Edwards said. “I did that for about five years, and then I joined a private firm.” Shorty after in 1990, Edward’s accepted a new job with the Dougherty County Judicial Circuit, prosecuting crimes against women and children, giving Edward’s an opportunity to grow within the DA’s office. Edwards said while he’s honored to make history as the first Black District Attorney, he felt a responsibility from day one to make sure the community knew he had a heart for and a commitment to all people. “You know, I am the first African American District Attorney, and I told my staff that it means nothing at all. It means nothing at all to the extent that even though I’m Black, that means nothing at all in terms of my duty to the community, my duty to making sure that the truth is found, that justice is served,” Edwards said. But at the same time, E
