The first person of African descent to win an at-large (partisan) election in North Alabama (2000), Judge Sherrod is a graduate of Fisk University and the University of Houston (Texas) School of Law. Judge Sherrod was re-elected unchallenged for a six (6) years term on November 7, 2005, and retired from the State Court System January 15, 2013. Judge Sherrod has served her community as Presiding (First African American) Municipal Judge, Assistant District Attomey (First African American), private practitioner, and has taught Criminal Justice at Alabama A & M University. Judge Sherrod developed the first Family Drug Court (a dependency court for substance abusing parents) in Alabama, and added an Adult Drug Court (felony criminal offenders) and a Juvenile Drug Court to the specialty courts in Madison County, Alabama. As Presiding Juvenile Court Judge, Judge Sherrod initiated and secured funding for the Madison County Juvenile Court Improvement Project. Judge Sherrod served on the Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Task Force on the development of drug courts statewide, and chaired the Juvenile/Dependency Drug Court Education Committee. Judge Sherrod served on the State Juvenile Code Committee, the District Court Rules Committee and the Committee on The Future of the Juvenile Court System. In response to an increase in traffic accidents involving young drivers, Judge Sherrod took the defensive driving program into the local high schools. Judge Sherrod developed The Lend An Ear Court Mentoring Program in Madison County, and Judge Sherrod initiated both the Mediation in Small Claims Court and the Judicial Volunteer Programs.

The 35th Chairperson (First & only Alabamian) of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association, Judge Sherrod formerly served on the Board of Trustees of Alabama A & M University for seven (7) years, and the National Policy Council of the Joint Center for Political Studies. Judge Sherrod is a founding member of the National African American Drug Policy Coalition (NAADPC), and holds membership in the American Inns of Court, the Alabama State Bar Association, the Huntsville Madison County Bar Association, the National Bar Association and formerly in the Association of Family and Juvenile Court Judges, the Alabama District Judges Association, and the American Bar Association, and served on the board of The Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.

Judge Sherrod has received more than 100 awards including Outstanding Achievement Award, South Eastern Regional Conference Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Milton K. Cummings Humanitarian Award, Community Action Partnership, the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award NAACP, the Perry O. Ward Community Service Award, and has been named citizen of the year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Worshipful Masters Council, and received unity awards from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Greater Huntsville Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship. Judge Judge Sherrodrrod is the 2006 recipient of the Governor’s Award for Judicial Conservation, the 2010 Community Service Award from the Women’s Economic Council, and the Medallion of Service Alabama A. & M University. The 2013 Mentoring Award from the 100 Black Men of Huntsville and has been honored by the Alabama Baptist Convention Women, received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association in July 2014, and the Distinguished iJudge Sherrodd Service Award from the International Association of Black Business and Professional Women in October 2015. Judge Sherrod is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville Madison County, and Leadership Alabama. Judge Sherrod and her husband, Eddie, attend St. John AME Church and Judge Sherrod serves as chairperson of the scholarship committee. Judge Sherrod is a member of the Greater Huntsville Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, Epsilon Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and a charter member of the Ivy Center Huntsville/Madison County Foundation, the nonproflt Dental Health Services, Inc. and the National African American Drug Policy Coalition. Judge Sherrod is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Birmingham Chapter of the United Nations Association of Alabama.

Education

Honorable Martha Lynn Sherrod is a graduate of Fisk University and the University of Houston (Texas) School of Law.

Awards and Honors