Judge Gina Higgins, a native Memphian, earned her BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Memphis and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1984. She 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 Argentina, Newfoundland, Canada.
Her legal career included Legal Services in Memphis and Arkansas; 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 and an Assistant Shelby County Divorce Referee.
Her law affiliations (past and present) include: President Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association (2006) and Board Member; Leo Bearman American Inns of Court; Board Member American Bar Association; American Trial Lawyers Association; Board Member Memphis Bar Association; Board Member Memphis Bar Foundation; Association of Women Attorneys; Association of Minority Women Attorneys; Board Member Southwest Community College Paralegal Studies; Board Member Shelby County Public Records Commission; Member Salvation Army Advisory Board; Tennessee Judicial Conference; Board Member & Judicial Reception Chair University of Memphis School of Law Alumni Board. Co-chair Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Students Law Intern Program.
Judge Higgins is the recipient of many awards for her service to the community including, Tri-State Defender Woman of Excellence; Memphis Inter-Denominational Fellowship-12 Most Outstanding Women in the Judiciary; Young Lawyers’ Division Memphis Bar Association Charles A. Rond 2018 Judge of the Year Award Recipient.
Elected in 2010, to serve as Judge of Circuit Court Division 4 and re-elected in 2014. On a personal note, Judge Higgins is a member of Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, founded by the late Bishop G.E. Patterson and pastored by Bishop Milton Hawkins, and 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.
