ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Dougherty County Superior Court Judge Loring Gray Jr. died on Tuesday, Feb. 24, prompting tributes from local legal professionals who describe him as a steady presence committed to efficiency and respect in his courtroom.

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“He had a feel for people, and he cared about people. And that’s, I think, his real legacy. He cared about what he was doing, and genuinely liked people,” longtime friend, Del Percilla, said.

From the DA’s office to the bench

Before his appointment to the Superior Court, Gray served as an assistant district attorney and later in private practice. Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Ken Hodges, a former district attorney recalled watching Gray and his own father — a public defender — argue cases against each other as a young boy.

“He and my dad going at it, you know, very competitively, because my dad was the public defender, and then when they left, they would walk across the street together, you know, and be joking and laughing. And they would sit down at the same little booth in the Quickie, order cups of coffee and be talking about what happened that day and talking about other things,” Hodges said.

A reputation for structure and fairness

Percilla, who practiced law for 50 years, described Gray as sharp and well-rounded.

“Well, I thought he was smart. He was— He was interesting. He had had sort of a varied background, and was just pretty clever,” Percilla said.

District Attorney Greg Edwards credited Gray with bringing consistency and order to the judicial process following his appointment to the bench.

“We settled into a firm routine that allowed us to process cases expeditiously and efficiently. And Judge Gray is instrumental in all of that. He ran a very good courtroom,” Edwards said.

Hodges shared a similar sentiment to Edwards’ — adding that Gray was cognizant of everyone in the courtroom and worked to avoid wasting their time.

“He was always mindful that other than the lawyers and him and the bailiffs, everybody else really didn’t want to be there. You know, the jurors were giving their time, and he was respectful of that. He did not waste their time,” Hodges said.

Mentorship behind closed doors

Gray also mentored young attorneys privately rather than correcting them in open court.

“He would give them helpful, constructive criticism, not in the open courtroom to be embarrassing, but, you know, back behind closed doors in the chambers. His chambers was always open for these young lawyers to come and talk and ask for advice,” Percilla said.

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