A newsletter for Georgia’s judges highlighting the judicial branch across the state – both on and off the bench.
In celebration of Constitution Week in 2022, we partnered with the Georgia Center for Civics Engagement and Georgia Family Connection Partnership for a series called #judgesreadmeaningfultweets. Georgia students asked the questions, judges provided the answers. Thank you to everyone that participated. We look forward to next year!
We recently spoke with Herbert Gordon, who serves as the Program Manager for the Georgia Courts Registrar and as the Program Manager for the Office of Court Professionals at the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts. Condensed and edited for clarity Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez: Would you please share your professional background with our readers? Herbert Gordon: … Continue reading Herbert Gordon: First-Rate Manager, Fixer, and Family Man
Wilcox County, GeorgiaAugust 20, 2022 by Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez, Esq. One of Wilcox County’s native sons, Judge Shawn Rhodes—who serves as the County’s Probate Court Judge, Magistrate Court Judge, and as the Municipal Court Judge for two cities—addressed attendees at the start of the clinic and welcomed the volunteers as “water bearers” to this legal desert … Continue reading Records Restriction Clinic
Nineteen graduates of the My Journey Matters program in Fulton Superior Court had a celebratory event on July 22. The program has been profiled before. It was started by Judge Shawn LaGrua (now Justice LaGrua) and has since been taken over by Judge Rachelle Carnesale. The program was designed to divert young men and women … Continue reading My Journey Matters Graduation Ceremony
We recently spoke with Tracy Mason, a long-serving employee, and current Senior Assistant Director for the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts. Condensed and edited for clarity Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez: Thank you, Tracy, for taking time to talk with me. Would you please share your professional background with our readers? Tracy Mason: It’s my pleasure, and … Continue reading Tracy Mason—Answering the Call to Public Service
Justice John Ellington gives the Oath of President to Judge Vi Bennett Judge Bennett presents President’s Award to Judge Al Wong Robe Rage performs and gets standing ovation The Wesleyan Players perform a skit on Contempt Judge Shawn Bratton Opens Conference with Amazing Bagpipe skills Former State Court Judge, now Superior Court Judge Victoria Darrisaw … Continue reading Scenes from the Council of State Court Judges’ 2022 Spring Conference
Judicial Council Committee on Access to JusticeRecord Restriction ClinicAlbany, Georgia May 5, 2022 Justice Verda Colvin of the Supreme Court of Georgia and Judge Ken Hodges of the Court of Appeals of Georgia stopped into the event to lend their support and encouragement. Chief Superior Court Judge Willie Lockette of the Dougherty Judicial Circuit attended … Continue reading Judicial Council Committee on Access to Justice Record Restriction Clinic
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage month. Asian Pacific Americans serve as judges in all but two classes of Georgia’s court system. Only the Court of Appeals of Georgia (on which Justice Carla W. McMillian previously presided) and the State-wide Business Court (which is currently a single-judge class) are without an Asian American judge. To … Continue reading Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The State Bar of Georgia's Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession presented two judges with awards in 2022. Judge Alvin T. Wong of the State Court of DeKalb County received the Randolph Thrower Lifetime Achievement Award, and Judge Tabitha Ponder of the Cobb County Magistrate Court received a Commitment to Equality Award. https://youtu.be/PcCq-WJ8AAI https://youtu.be/3m7YUiYPeqY … Continue reading Commitment to Equality Awards Presented by the State Bar of Georgia’s Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession
Condensed and edited for clarity We had the opportunity to have an informative conversation with ICJE’s new Executive Director Nelson. We learned she is a vegan and had a great recommendation for an Atlanta donut shop which we have already visited and loved. Michelle Barclay: Tell us a little about your background and what led … Continue reading Meet Lynne Moore Nelson, the Executive Director for the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (ICJE) of Georgia