Happy Halloween, Georgia Courts Journal Readers,
The Judicial Council of Georgia met for a Special Session on October 23, 2026. During that meeting, the Judicial Council heard a report and recommendation from its Ad Hoc AOC Director Search Committee, which recommended the appointment of Tracy Mason. The Judicial Council adopted that recommendation and unanimously voted to appoint Tracy Mason as the new AOC Director, filling the vacancy created by the recent retirement of Cynthia H. Clanton, Esq. Upon her appointment, Chief Justice Peterson noted, “I have the utmost confidence in Ms. Mason’s ability to lead the AOC and to continue its mission to provide critical services to Georgia’s judicial branch.” He added, “I’ve worked closely with Ms. Mason for many years. She is the perfect person for this important responsibility. Georgia judges, courts, and citizens are blessed to enjoy her continued service in this new role.” In other Judicial Council news, Court of Appeals Judge Paige Reese Whitaker led her first meeting as Chair of the Standing Committee on Court Reporting Matters. That Committee’s upcoming work will include consideration of an anticipated update to the court reporters fee schedule. Several judges and staff members of the Judicial Council Standing Committee on Judicial Security attended a convening of the National Center for State Court’s Safer Courts initiative in Atlanta in late October. Chief Justice Peterson and AOC Director Tracy Mason delivered welcoming remarks each morning of the two-day event. Justice Shawn Ellen LaGrua participated in a panel discussion addressing national models of court security governance, standards, and funding, while Stan Cooper, Georgia’s Director of Judicial Protective Services, served on a panel about home security and personal safety.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to renew our commitment to protecting the systems, information, and public trust that support Georgia’s courts. Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) highlights four foundational practices that can significantly reduce cyber risk:
- Provide “Phishing” Awareness Training for All Employees. Phishing attacks are designed to trick employees into opening malicious attachments, clicking harmful links, or disclosing sensitive information. Regular training helps employees recognize and report suspicious messages before damage occurs.
- Require Strong Passwords. Strong passwords remain one of the simplest and most effective defenses against unauthorized account access by guessing or automated attacks. Make strong passwords mandatory for all users and encourage secure password management practices.
- Require Multifactor Authentication (MFA). MFA, also known as two-factor authentication, adds an extra layer of protection beyond a password alone. Even if a password is compromised, MFA can help prevent unauthorized access to accounts and systems. Require it to make accounts significantly more secure.
- Keep Software Updated. Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Promptly installing security updates and patches helps protect devices, networks, and sensitive information.
The Judicial Council/AOC’s Information Security Team is dedicated to safeguarding our technology infrastructure and supporting cybersecurity efforts in courts across Georgia. Among the most common cyber threats they encounter are phishing attempts aimed at obtaining credentials or access to systems. To help users recognize and respond to these attacks, the team recommends this helpful article on phishing and this one-minute video on recognizing and reporting phishing attempts. We recently spoke with Dafante Stapleton, Information Security Manager for the Judicial Council/AOC, who offered the following advice:
“The most sophisticated attack we see still starts with a single click. The best defense isn’t a tool, it’s a habit: slow down on anything that creates urgency, verify the sender through a channel you trust, and report what looks off. A thirty-second pause protects better than any software we can buy.”
October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to recognize the importance of supporting survivors, promoting accountability, and strengthening responses to domestic violence in our communities. We commend the many judges who lend their expertise and leadership in service on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence: Judge Jeffrey Kight, Judge Connie Williford, Chief Judge Berryl Anderson, Judge Nina Markette Baker, Chief Judge Cindy Morris, Judge Stephen Bradley, Judge Lindsay Burton, and Judge Ashley Wright. Also noteworthy is the Domestic Violence Court pilot program in the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. That court is guided by four core objectives: achieving just outcomes, enhancing victim safety, promoting offender accountability, and reducing recidivism. To learn more about the Conasauga Judicial Circuit’s Domestic Violence Court, we invite you to read this informative piece provided by Chief Judge Cindy Morris and Court Coordinator Amanda Barnett, which highlights the program’s development, goals, and impact.
The ballot initiative proposing an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to require the nonpartisan election of probate judges continues to generate significant public discussion and media attention. Most recently, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an op-ed on the proposed amendment by Council of Probate Court Judges Executive Director Kevin Holder and former Governors Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal. In other judicial news, Cobb County Magistrate Court Judge Tabitha Ponder, who also serves as contract attorney for the Judicial Council’s access to justice initiatives, recently participated in a panel as part of the Illinois Judges Association’s Pro Bono Week program. Joined by judges from Texas, Minnesota, and Illinois, Judge Ponder encouraged courts to identify barriers to access to justice and to develop innovative programs and partnerships to address them. Meanwhile, at the invitation of Georgia State University’s Pre-Law Society, Fort Valley Municipal Court Judge Chimere Chisolm Trimble spoke at Beyond the Bar: Women, Leadership, & Building a Career in Law. Drawing on her diverse experience as an attorney, municipal court judge, mediator, arbitrator, guardian ad litem, and parenting coordinator, Judge Trimble shared insights on leadership, professional development, entrepreneurship, and the many opportunities afforded to those who earn a Juris Doctor degree.
The Judicial Council/AOC’s commitment to supporting Georgia’s courts also includes ongoing collaboration with local judicial circuits on data reporting. On October 8th, members of the Office of Research and Data Analysis, Andres Bosque, Mitchell Redd, and Kate Heidenreich, joined Judicial Services Director Stephanie Hines for a technical visit to the Dougherty Judicial Circuit. During the visit, they met with judges and clerks to discuss case count reporting.
The Council of Probate Court Judges and the Council of State Court Judges gathered in Coastal Georgia for their respective Fall Conferences earlier this month. Preferring the Piedmont this time of year, the Council of Municipal Court Judges held its Fall Law & Practice Update, the Council of Magistrate Court Judges convened its Fall Recertification, and the Council of Juvenile Court Judges held its Fall Conference in Athens at various times throughout October. On October 15th, staff for the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Justice for Children convened multidisciplinary stakeholders to discuss maximizing Title IV-E foster care reimbursements and Diana Rugh Johnson, Court Improvement Director for the Justice for Children Committee, testified before the Georgia General Assembly’s Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia’s Foster Care System on October 22nd. In other court news, Judge Lisa Reeves and the staff of the Grantville Municipal Court recently received a thoughtful gesture of appreciation—a bouquet of red roses—from Mr. Daniels, a retired Army veteran who attended court proceedings on October 6th. Following the proceedings, Mr. Daniels expressed his admiration for the court’s professionalism, efficiency, and welcoming atmosphere. He specifically commended the strong leadership of Judge Reeves and expressed his gratitude to the entire court team for their commitment to excellence and the exceptional level of service they provide to the public.
On October 28th, judges representing a variety of faith traditions and classes of court attended the annual Red Mass, a Catholic tradition dating to 1245, that offers prayers for members of the legal profession and those who serve in the administration of justice. A reminder that the nomination period for the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism’s annual Benham Awards for Community Service will close on November 11th. Additional information about the awards, nomination criteria, and submission process is available on the Commission’s website. Supporting the Judicial Council/AOC’s ongoing community outreach and civics education initiatives, our Assistant Division Director for Communications, Children, Families, and the Courts, JoAnna Deering, recently attended the Georgia Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference. During the event, she strengthened longstanding relationships with educators from across the state, distributed educational materials about Georgia’s Judicial Branch, showcased artwork from previous Law Day Art Contests, promoted the upcoming 2027 Law Day Art Contest, and engaged in valuable networking opportunities with social studies professionals. Looking ahead, our November edition will feature judges and AOC team members who are currently serving or have previously served in the United States Armed Forces. If you would like to be included in this special Veterans Day feature, please contact JoAnna Deering at joanna.deering@georgiacourts.gov.
Call on us anytime. Talk to you in November.
Your JC/AOC Courts Journal team: Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez, Bruce Shaw, and JoAnna Deering