GA Bar

Sonja is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  She has no public disciplinary actions on record.

There are no public documents filed with the Judicial Qualifications Commission or Supreme Court of Georgia regarding Judge Brown.

- Sonja is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  She has no public disciplinary actions on record.
- There are no public documents filed with the Judicial Qualifications Commission or Supreme Court of Georgia regarding Judge Brown.

Ethics & Conduct

Cobb County Courier

Judge Brown is a Magistrate Court Judge. As a Magistrate Court Judge, she presides over both civil and criminal matters. The civil matters include small claims under $15,000 and wedding ceremonies. The criminal matters include local ordinance violations, traffic citations, and some misdemeanors.

Previously, Judge Brown was a prosecutor. As a prosecutor, she charged and tried cases against individuals accused of crimes. She prosecuted secual assault, rape, and child abuses cases at the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit in the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney and ont he Special Victims Unity in the DeKalb Solicitor General’s Office. She oversaw the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney’s community outreach.

Previously, Judge Brown was in-house counsel. As in-house counsel, Judge Brown handled a wide range of issues affecting the technology company including contract negotiations, client relations, and human resources issues.

- Judge Brown is a Magistrate Court Judge. As a Magistrate Court Judge, she presides over both civil and criminal matters. The civil matters include small claims under $15,000 and wedding ceremonies. The criminal matters include local ordinance violations, traffic citations, and some misdemeanors. 
- Previously, Judge Brown was a prosecutor. As a prosecutor, she charged and tried cases against individuals accused of crimes. She prosecuted secual assault, rape, and child abuses cases at the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit in the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney and ont he Special Victims Unity in the DeKalb Solicitor General’s Office. She oversaw the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney’s community outreach. 
- Previously, Judge Brown was in-house counsel. As in-house counsel, Judge Brown handled a wide range of issues affecting the technology company including contract negotiations, client relations, and human resources issues.

Legal Experience

Said, “The three words that I would describe my campaign can be summed up as service, compassion, and justice. It means that I am committed to serving the citizens of Cobb County with integrity, honesty, honor, and fidelity to the Constitution and the laws of Georgia.”

Judge Brown said that she supports alternatives to imprisonment in some cases. These alternatives include pretrial diversion accountability court. Accountability court includes drug court or mental health court. Pretrial diversion requires first time offenders to attend counseling sessions or life skill classes, and upon successful completion the offender’s case is dismissed.

- Said, “The three words that I would describe my campaign can be summed up as service, compassion, and justice. It means that I am committed to serving the citizens of Cobb County with integrity, honesty, honor, and fidelity to the Constitution and the laws of Georgia.” 
- Judge Brown said that she supports alternatives to imprisonment in some cases. These alternatives include pretrial diversion accountability court. Accountability court includes drug court or mental health court. Pretrial diversion requires first time offenders to attend counseling sessions or life skill classes, and upon successful completion the offender’s case is dismissed.

Judicial Philosophy

Said,  “I think access, more people I think have been able to see it through being able to log on via WebEx or Zoom. It’s also I think helped to cut down on disrupting the lives of everyday citizens. If you’re litigating a case, you may not have to take the day off from work to come spend the day at court because you can log in for your particular hearing. I do believe that where we can continue to utilize technology we should for those very reasons, it gives people more access — litigants as well as attorneys, because attorneys could have court in Cobb County in the morning and then have court in Hall County in the afternoon.

- Said,  “I think access, more people I think have been able to see it through being able to log on via WebEx or Zoom. It’s also I think helped to cut down on disrupting the lives of everyday citizens. If you’re litigating a case, you may not have to take the day off from work to come spend the day at court because you can log in for your particular hearing. I do believe that where we can continue to utilize technology we should for those very reasons, it gives people more access — litigants as well as attorneys, because attorneys could have court in Cobb County in the morning and then have court in Hall County in the afternoon.

Judicial Administration

Serves on the Board of Directors of the Tommy Nobis Center.

Serves on the Board of Trustees of the North Georgia United Methodist Conference.

Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

- Serves on the Board of Directors of the Tommy Nobis Center.
- Serves on the Board of Trustees of the North Georgia United Methodist Conference.
- Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Community Involvement

Sonja Brown

James is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  He has no public disciplinary actions on record.

- James is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  He has no public disciplinary actions on record.

James is an attorney operating his own practice. As an attorney, James has represented clients in criminal defense, divorce, child custody, personal injury, adoption, wills, and social security disability cases. James has represented victims of domestic violence pro bono to help them get protective orders or divorces.

- James is an attorney operating his own practice. As an attorney, James has represented clients in criminal defense, divorce, child custody, personal injury, adoption, wills, and social security disability cases. James has represented victims of domestic violence pro bono to help them get protective orders or divorces.

Said, “My focus is on Cobb County families and upholding the laws so that our families can all feel safe and be safe in our homes.  That means locking up violent offenders.”

Said, “As a Superior Court judge, my role is not to make new law, but to interpret the laws enacted by the legislature, looking at the plain language of the statute and the intent or purpose behind the statute.”

James said he believes that low income criminal defendants should have access to investigators and expert witnesses, when necessary.

James said, “In civil cases, the court has a responsibility to make sure that the parties are able to secure representation, but not unreasonably delay the case.  For example, the benefit of a protective order should be granted on a temporary basis to the petitioner when the respondent seeks a continuance to obtain legal representation.”

- Said, “My focus is on Cobb County families and upholding the laws so that our families can all feel safe and be safe in our homes.  That means locking up violent offenders.”
- Said, “As a Superior Court judge, my role is not to make new law, but to interpret the laws enacted by the legislature, looking at the plain language of the statute and the intent or purpose behind the statute.”
- James said he believes that low income criminal defendants should have access to investigators and expert witnesses, when necessary.
- James said, “In civil cases, the court has a responsibility to make sure that the parties are able to secure representation, but not unreasonably delay the case.  For example, the benefit of a protective order should be granted on a temporary basis to the petitioner when the respondent seeks a continuance to obtain legal representation.”

James would continue to conduct some court proceedings on virtual platforms to make the Cobb County Superior Court more accessible.

He would make information regarding diversion programs and accountability courts available earlier in court proceedings.

- James would continue to conduct some court proceedings on virtual platforms to make the Cobb County Superior Court more accessible. 
- He would make information regarding diversion programs and accountability courts available earlier in court proceedings.

James is treasurer of the Parents Association at his daughter’s school.

- James is treasurer of the Parents Association at his daughter’s school.

James Luttrell

- Georgia Superior Court Judges hear a wide range of criminal cases from petty theft and public drunkenness to murder. Some cases in front of the Georgia Superior Court involve the death penalty. 
- On the civil side, Superior Court Judges hear cases on divorce, titles to land, contract disputes, and premises liability. 
- Superior Court Judges are elected by judicial circuit. Each county surrounding Atlanta has its own judicial circuit, while rural judicial districts typically consist of multiple counties.
- Superior Court Judges are elected to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. The Governor can appoint Superior Court Judges when vacancies arise. 