SAVANNAH, Ga. — Spencer Lawton Jr., a distinguished figure in the Georgia legal system and a former district attorney, recently passed away at the age of 81. His death occurred Wednesday at his residence in Savannah, as confirmed by an obituary from a local funeral service, which did not disclose the cause of death.
Beginning his career as a young attorney in Savannah’s private sector, Lawton was elected as Chatham County’s district attorney in 1980. He dedicated nearly three decades to this position, where he was instrumental in implementing a program designed to assist victims in navigating the challenging landscape of criminal court proceedings. This initiative was innovative for its time and later served as a model for similar programs across the state of Georgia.
Meg Heap, a former assistant prosecutor and victim advocate who worked under Lawton, highlighted his unwavering support for crime victims. “He was a huge proponent for victims of crimes,” Heap stated. “He stood on the side of right and brought justice to those who felt invisible, especially victims in dire circumstances.”
Lawton’s career was marked by significant accomplishment, but he gained widespread recognition for his involvement in the high-profile murder case of antiques dealer Jim Williams, which became renowned after being chronicled in the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” In May 1981, just months after Lawton took office, Williams shot and killed 21-year-old Danny Hansford, an employee and romantic partner. Although Williams claimed self-defense, authorities suspected he had manipulated the crime scene.
Lawton took the initiative to indict Williams on murder charges and personally prosecuted the case. It became a legal saga that unfolded over four trials; the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the first two convictions before the third trial resulted in a hung jury. Ultimately, Williams was acquitted in 1989, but the trial’s complexities remained prominent in local lore until his death just seven months later.
The narrative of this controversial case served as the foundation for John Berendt’s 1994 bestselling book. In it, Lawton was depicted as a fierce adversary, characterized as “eloquent and venomous.” This portrayal continued in Clint Eastwood’s 1997 film adaptation, which altered the district attorney’s name to Finley Largent.
Despite the infamous case, David Lock, who served as Lawton’s chief assistant prosecutor, noted, “I don’t really think about the Williams case when I think of Spencer’s contributions to the community.” He expressed that he had not read the book and believed it presented an unfair representation of Lawton’s character.
One of Lawton’s early initiatives as district attorney involved establishing a specialized program to better support crime victims and court witnesses. He employed and trained advocates who offered guidance on the legal process, provided updates on hearings, and assisted victims in finding counseling services.
Other district attorneys in Georgia began to adopt and refine their own victim-witness programs based on Lawton’s pioneering efforts in Savannah, according to Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys Council. “Victims often entered the criminal justice system against their will and were left uninformed about their cases. Before Lawton’s program, there wasn’t a reliable point of contact within a DA’s office for victims,” Skandalakis remarked.
Lawton retired from his district attorney role in 2008. In 2010, he played a vital role in advocating for enhanced rights of crime victims under Georgia law. This legislation granted victims the opportunity to address the court during sentencing of offenders and mandated that they be informed of any developments in their cases, including details regarding their perpetrators’ release.
“His professionalism was evident in everything he did,” Lock reflected. “His significant legacy in district attorneys’ offices and within the legal field was his dedication to championing victims’ rights.”
