T
T
I AM, WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE.
-Shirley chisolm
ABOUT TERI
With a legal career that spans over 30 years, Teri Lee Thompson has stood in the forefront of the most complex and consequential litigation in the nation— defending lives in death penalty cases in state and federal courtrooms.
Teri is an award-winning author--
Where she brings that same voice that moves judges and juries to the page. Her initiative, Girls Who Rise™ provides mentorship and workshops on confidence and entrepreneurial skills.
Teri’s legal background is unmatched--
Qualified as Learned Counsel since 2018, she represented men and women facing the death penalty across the country, including the federal courts of Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. In 2022, she was appointed as an Associate Magistrate Court Judge in DeKalb County, Georgia. In 2024, she was selected as Resource Counsel with the Federal Capital Trial Project where she advises federal capital trial teams in various jurisdictions around the United States.
Teri’s passion is uncompromising--
From representing youthful offenders in juvenile court to representing former members of the Black Panthers and the Black Liberation Army, she has advocated for justice around the country. She also volunteered for Clemency Project 2014, an initiative of President Barack Obama, where she worked with federal inmates around the country to fight for clemency from unjust federal drug sentences..
A passionate leader in her community, Teri is the Founder and Executive Director of Justice Redefined™, a nonprofit organization that provides educational support, mental health resources, and entrepreneurial skills to at-risk youth.
follow me
AFFILIATIONS
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
-
Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL)
-
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
-
Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL)
-
Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA)
-
National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, Life Member
-
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Life Member
BAR MEMBERSHIPS
-
United States Supreme Court
-
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
-
United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
-
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
-
United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
-
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California (Pro Hac Vice)
-
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois (Pro Hac Vice)
-
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
-
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Pro Hac Vice)
-
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Pro Hac Vice)
-
United States District Court of the Virgin Islands (Pro Hac Vice)
-
Georgia Supreme Court
-
Georgia Court of Appeals
-
State Bar of Georgia
MENTORSHIPS
-
Spelman College Mock Trial Team Coach
-
Spelman College, Sister 2 Sister Committee
-
Spelman College, Debate Team Coach
PUBLICATIONS
-
Judge Teri Thompson: Empowering Youth and Reforming Justice One Step at a Time
-
“If God is a God of Redemption, Should Government Get in the Way,” Canopy Forum, November 25, 2020, Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University.
-
“Navigating Probation Revocation Hearings in Georgia,” June 1, 2017, Avvo Legal Guides
appearances
STAFF
Ivoryana Neal
Law Clerk
Ivoryana Neal earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Spelman College and is passionate about criminal justice reform, community advocacy, and supporting justice-impacted families and communities.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, her work is deeply rooted in her lived experiences navigating the emotional and social impacts of parental incarceration during childhood. Those experiences shaped her understanding of systemic inequities and inspired her commitment to advocacy, healing, and social change.
As a John Lewis Scholar and Social Justice Fellow at Spelman College, Ivoryana focused her academic and community work on the school-to-prison pipeline, systemic barriers impacting marginalized communities, and the power of storytelling and narrative research to influence public perception and policy reform.
Through her work and advocacy, Ivoryana is committed to amplifying the voices of justice-impacted individuals and expanding access to equitable care, support, and opportunity. Drawing from both professional and personal experience, she speaks on the importance of providing compassionate, informed, and dignified care to justice-impacted patients, families, and communities.
community service & mentorships
WHEN YOU EDUCATE A WOMAN, YOU EDUCATE A NATION
-African PROVERB
Teri Thompson LLC is a proud supporter of the Oyedeji Grammar School in Oyedeji, Nigeria where young girls in rural areas often miss school simply because their families are unable to afford necessary feminine products. Click to support our goal as we change the lives of underprivileged young scholars.
Teri's other community support efforts include:
Board Member, Children’s Museum of Montgomery, Alabama
Believing in the unlimited abilities of every child, Teri serves is a member of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Museum of Montgomery which inspires young minds and provides hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
Coach, Spelman College Speech and Debate Team
Teri serves as a volunteer coach of the national award-winning Spelman College Speech and Debate Team.
Coach, Spelman College Mock Trial Team
Training pre-law students in trial skills from opening statement to cross-examination, Teri led the Spelman College Mock Trial Team in competitions across Georgia and Florida.
Mentor, Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
Giving a voice to the voiceless, Teri served as a CASA volunteer for foster children in the DeKalb County Juvenile Court.
