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Joyce Marie Griggs is an American politician of the Democratic Party and former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Griggs is running for election in Georgia's 1st Congressional District in the 2022 House of Representatives elections after previously running in 2000.
Early life and education
Born in Bethnel, North Carolina to a sharecropper family, she is one of 10 children. Griggs had several jobs in her youth including working on a farm from when she was 5-years-old and babysitting whilst she was at high school. Leaving for North Carolina Central University when she was 17, Griggs studied for a bachelor's degree in sociology and later a masters' degree in counselling[1]. Whilst at university, Griggs worked two jobs. One with the student union and in a restaurant in Durham, North Carolina.
Military career
Griggs was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, where she served 33 years. Deployed in South Korea and the Middle East, she served as an intelligence officer, earning multiple awards for her service, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal among others.[2] 4 of her brothers and 2 of her nephews have military experience (2 in U.S. Navy, 2 in U.S. Army and 2 U.S. Marines).[3]
Legal career
After her military career spanning a total 33 years, Griggs entered the legal profession, studying for her Juris Doctor degree at the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. She often worked for clients pro-bono, earning several recognitions for her work.[1]
In February 2004, Griggs was barred from practicing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia after failing to respond to court orders that led to Griggs’ clients’ cases being dismissed, and making unnecessary claims.[4][5]
In January 2011, Griggs launched a motion for reinstatement based on the argument that her disbarment was beyond the power of a federal district court. The Supreme Court of Georgia denied her request.
Political career
A member of the Democratic Party
Griggs again ran for office in 2020, winning the Democratic primary but later losing to Buddy Carter at the 2020 United States presidential election, where he won all but 2 counties of the district.[6]
Now living in Savannah, Georgia, Griggs is the mother of 2 adult children, a son and a daughter along with 4 grandchildren.[7]
- ^ a b "Meet Joyce Griggs, 1st CD Representative". Meet Joyce Griggs, 1st CD Representative. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ Griggs, Joyce Marie (2022). "About Me".
- ^ "Interview: Joyce Marie Griggs, Democratic Candidate for Georgia Congressional District 1". Action News Jax. 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ "FindLaw's Supreme Court of Georgia case and opinions". Findlaw. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ "Discipline History". www.gabar.org. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
- ^ Peebles, Will. "Joyce Marie Griggs joins 1st District race, setting up potential rematch with Buddy Carter". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ "22020 Georgia Federal Candidate Questionnaire" (PDF). 2020.