Daily Inspiration: Meet Demarius Newsome

Today we’d like to introduce you to Demarius Newsome.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am from Meadville, PA, born and raised by my mother, the late Jacqueline Newsome, and my grandmother, Berta Newsome Jones. Since childhood, I have always been fascinated by knowledge, understanding, and helping people, all of which contributed to my passion for the law and for the good.

In 2011, I began my studies at Hampton University in Hampton, VA, where I devoted myself not only to my classwork, but also to my musicianship and greater university community. It was here that I l embraced the understanding that your voice is to support others, that your breath must be in tandem, that your song must be sincere, and that your life must do the singing.

After graduating in 2015, I continued my education at Emory Law School in Atlanta, GA, where I focused my education on constitutional law, criminal procedure, and litigation, in preparation for what I do now — prosecution. From the time I had seen myself as a lawyer, I had always known that prosecution was my path — because I wanted to be a help to people where they are most vulnerable.

Being in the eighth year of my career at various prosecuting offices in the metro-Atlanta Area, I have had the unique opportunity to not only gain experience in legal practice, but to help as many people as I can. In this line of work, there comes an understanding that the decisions you make have to be the ones ultimately bring the justice result, no matter how difficult. Further, it is important to maintain your conviction and your why, regardless of whether the result is good, bad, or indifferent.

Outside of my professional work, as that is just a title, I am very involved with my church community as well as various community arts organizations such as Atlanta Freedom Bands, OurSong Atlanta, and the Atlanta Bard show. I personally find that whatever art we can create, whether through our work or with our hearts, reminds that we are human with something beautiful to contribute.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a lawyer, you work in an industry where your work is constantly evaluated by your coworkers, your outside colleagues, your judges, and your community — and even when it is difficult, it is imperative to show up as best you can for the work you do. There will be days when you are handed a favorable decision from the bench or a good word from your victims and their families. There will be days when you will have worked so hard and yet have nothing to show for it, despite your best efforts. There will be seasons where you are at your best, and the climates when you are lower than your worst.

And not going to lie, there will be times when you want to just give up what you’ve devoted yourself to thinking that is not worth it anymore. I have been in that space more times than I care to admit, even before putting my mask on before court or a meeting.

But in life, much like driving in the city, there will be times when the road is smooth and others when there are potholes and debris. But the point, regardless, is to keep moving. In those moments, I think about this quote:
“You try, you fail. You try, you fail. But the only true failure is when you stop trying.” — Madam Leota, “The Haunted Mansion” (2003).

Besides, if God is able to do any and everything, I can at least do something. You just have to be sure in yourself. And if you are not, you must then believe that you can and can be.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a criminal attorney, namely a prosecutor having practiced in Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton Counties. My professional experiences are mainly in trial and courtroom advocacy, and my cases extends from traffic offenses up to serious felonies, with a bulk of my experience being in domestic violence and other related offenses.

These kind of cases are not always the easiest to manage, depending on the nature and circumstances of any given case. But the important is to always decide and remember what the just action and just result is, and work towards that result. Because at the end of the day, that is the purpose of what we do. It is our service to the greater community.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Firstly, I only am because God is, and my heart is ever-thankful for whom God has made me to be.

Secondly, I would not be who/what/where/why I am today with that the continuous support of my family, namely my grandmother and my sisters, who have been with me every step of the way. Whether it’s grandmother reminders of my why, or either of my sisters’ warm yet bold words of praise and encouragement, those small gestures are a reflection of their love, and it is that love that sustains me.

Third, I want to thank every educator I have ever had from Pre-K through law school, because without education, none of us could ever become qualified to do what we do, nor fully understand why the work we do matters. So to my teachers from Crawford Central Schools, and my professors from Hampton University and Emory University, thank you for walking in your purpose as it helps me to walk in mine.

Fourth, I am grateful to a host of close friends who have seen me in those trench spaces not only in my career but just in my life. And when I am down, I know that there will be a warm hand to pull me out and a strong presence to comfort while we wait. Simply, thank you for being my friend.