Faculty Profile: Gina Higgins- Johnson

Judge Gina Higgins was born in Memphis, Tennessee, earned her BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Memphis, earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1984, worked at the Law School as a Minority Recruiter until she reported for active duty with the United States Navy in 1985.  Her tenure with the Navy was as an Assistant Judge Advocate General (JAG), trying Courts Martial in Tennessee, Texas and Mississippi, detailed as Claims Officer, Trial Officer, Defense Counsel, Legal Assistance Officer and Legal Officer for the Commanding Officer in Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada.  

Her legal career included a period of time with Legal Services in Memphis and Arkansas, prior to and during law school; a Clerkship and Associate position with the Law Offices of Herman E. Morris and the Law Offices of Charles Carpenter. She was a founding member of the Law Offices of STOTTS HIGGINS JOHNSON, which served as a general law practice with emphasis on Family Law, Probate, Consumer, Criminal Law, Personal Injury and Consumer Law. In addition, in 2003, she was appointed to serve as an Assistant Shelby County Divorce referee, to proctor and preside over hearings on temporary child support and alimony matters.

Judge Higgins served as President of the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association is 2006 and as a former Board Member; served as a Program Chair for the Leo Bearman American Inns of Court; a Board Member of the American Bar Association; member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, former Board Member of Memphis Bar Association; Board Member of Memphis Bar Foundation; member of Association of Women Attorneys and the Association of Minority Women Attorneys; Board Member of Southwest Community College Paralegal Studies and Shelby County Public Records Commission; Board Member of Salvation Army Advisory Board and Tennessee Judicial Conference; and former Board Member and Judicial Reception Chair of University of Memphis School of Law Alumni Board.  Additionally, for several years, she has co-chaired the Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Students Law Intern Program (SLIP) which recruits and places High School Students in law firms to enhance and develop the interests and careers of future lawyers.
Judge Higgins is the recipient of many awards for her service to the community.  She was recognized by Tri-State Defender as a Woman of Excellence, by Memphis Inter-Denominational Fellowship as one of 12 Most Outstanding Women in the Judiciary and by the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association as the 2018 Charles A. Rond Award Recipient for Judge of the Year.

In August 2010, Judge Higgins was elected Judge of Circuit Court Division 4 for the Thirtieth Judicial District at Memphis. She was re-elected in 2014. On a personal note, Judge Higgins is a long-time member of Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, founded by the late Bishop G.E. Patterson and pastored by Bishop Milton Hawkins. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Phi Lambda Omega Chapter.  Judge Higgins has a son, Jeremy, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, and a daughter, Morgan, a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta and Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, KS.