During Mercer University School of Law’s commencement ceremony on May 8, President Dr. Penny L. Elkins conferred upon keynote speaker the Hon. Erica L. Woodford, CLAS ’97, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. The honorary Doctor of Laws degree is among the highest distinctions a university can bestow, recognizing individuals whose professional achievements, leadership and service have made a significant impact on the law, the justice system and society. Conferred upon distinguished leaders in the legal profession and public service, the degree reflects exceptional accomplishment, integrity and dedication to advancing the public good.
Woodford has served as clerk of Superior Court of Bibb County since her election in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016, 2020 and 2024. During her tenure, she has modernized and expanded access to the office by implementing electronic filing ahead of the statutory mandate, hiring multilingual staff, digitizing land records dating from 1823 to the present, and installing electronic filing kiosks in Macon-area public libraries.
Before her election to public office, Woodford practiced law for nearly a decade, representing clients in juvenile, family and criminal matters. She later served as associate judge and magistrate in Bibb County Civil and Magistrate Courts.
Woodford also led the Enslaved People Project alongside Professor Emeritus Dr. Chester Fontenot and attorney Stephanie Woods Miller, resulting in the digitization and public accessibility of nearly 1,000 deed transactions documenting the sale of enslaved African Americans. The initiative received the 2023 Historic Preservation Award from Historic Macon Foundation.
A committed educator, Woodford has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Fort Valley State University, Wesleyan College and Central Georgia Technical College. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Mercer University School of Law, where she has become a familiar presence throughout students’ legal education. From guiding first-year students through the Bibb County Courthouse during orientation to teaching Advanced Writing Group and supporting graduates through the mass swearing-in ceremony, Woodford has played an important role in the professional formation of many Mercer Law students.
Her professional leadership includes service as president-elect of the Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia, where she will soon assume the presidency. She is also a member of numerous professional and civic organizations, including the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the Macon Bar Association and Downtown Rotary of Macon.
A native of Macon, Woodford earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science and African American studies from Mercer University and her Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.
Woodford is the daughter of Lawsey and Bessie Woodford and the mother of Ashley and Eric Woodford. She credits her parents with instilling in her a lifelong commitment to public service, legal excellence and community stewardship.
Founded in 1873, Mercer University School of Law has a long tradition of producing lawyers who are ready to practice and committed to serve. The School has earned a reputation as an excellent provider of legal education with an intense focus on student and faculty interaction.
