Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Moultrie native Tabitha Ponder Beckford running for Court of Appeals seat

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Tabitha was born and raised in Moultrie, Georgia, where she attended Colquitt County High School and graduated in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science degree in Psychology from Albany State University in 1996 and a law degree from Mercer University School of Law in 1999. She and her husband, Dwane, have five children. She attends the Faith Christian Center in Austell.

Tabitha is an attorney at the Ponder Law Group LLC, where she has been for the last 20 years. She is also a part-time Magistrate Judge for Cobb County, where she has been since January 2021. She was previously an Adjunct Professor at Albany State University.

As of April 10, 2024, Tabitha Ponder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Candidate website

Believes legal experience in insurance defense and indigent defense in Georgia honed skills to serve families, leading to the establishment of a personal law firm practicing statewide.

Believes in a hands-on legal approach, with experience as a Magistrate Judge, insurance defense counsel, assistant public defender, and head of a law firm aiding the injured and assisting with real estate, now seeking a Georgia Court of Appeals seat.

Was previously an insurance defense attorney for Clyatt, Clyatt, & Golden in Valdosta, Georgia, assistant public defender  for the Tift Judicial Circuit, and owned and operated a small law firm aiding  the insured and families with real estate needs.

Said, "I currently staff the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee... I continue to serve as a Special Master for Cobb County Superior Court..."

Currently on the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Colvin and the Special Events Committee 
Co-Chair of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).

Is a part-time Magistrate Judge for Cobb County

Previously worked at Albany State University for 7 years as a U.S. History & Georgia Government/Pre-Law Adjunct Professor.

Member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Cobb County Bar Association, the Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), and the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys (GABWA).

- Was previously an insurance defense attorney for Clyatt, Clyatt, & Golden in Valdosta, Georgia, assistant public defender  for the Tift Judicial Circuit, and owned and operated a small law firm aiding  the insured and families with real estate needs.
- Currently on the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Colvin and the Special Events Committee 
Co-Chair of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).
- Is a part-time Magistrate Judge for Cobb County
- Previously worked at Albany State University for 7 years as a U.S. History & Georgia Government/Pre-Law Adjunct Professor.
- Member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Cobb County Bar Association, the Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), and the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys (GABWA).

Legal Experience

As of March 19, 2024, Tabitha Ponder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Said, "I am a passionate member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, where I serve in the Youth Ministry. I enjoy spending time with my family, singing, and Latin dancing."

Is a member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, where she serves in the Youth Ministry.

Believes in community involvement through active participation in legal associations, volunteer leadership, and service in local organizations, including the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Cobb County NAACP.

Said, "I have been part of this community for many years, working tirelessly to make it a better place."

- Is a member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, where she serves in the Youth Ministry.
- Believes in community involvement through active participation in legal associations, volunteer leadership, and service in local organizations, including the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Cobb County NAACP.
- Said, "I have been part of this community for many years, working tirelessly to make it a better place."

Community Involvement

Tabitha Ponder

As of April 9, 2024, Tabitha Ponder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Is currently on the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Colvin and the Special Events Committee 
Co-Chair of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).

Is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Cobb County Bar Association, the Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), and the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys (GABWA).

- Was previously an insurance defense attorney for Clyatt, Clyatt, & Golden in Valdosta, Georgia, assistant public defender  for the Tift Judicial Circuit, and owned and operated a small law firm aiding  the insured and families with real estate needs.
- Is currently on the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Colvin and the Special Events Committee 
Co-Chair of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).
- Is a part-time Magistrate Judge for Cobb County
- Previously worked at Albany State University for 7 years as a U.S. History & Georgia Government/Pre-Law Adjunct Professor.
- Is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Cobb County Bar Association, the Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), and the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys (GABWA).

Tabitha Ponder was born and raised in Moultrie, Georgia, where she attended Colquitt County High School and graduated in 1992. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Albany State University in 1996 and a Juris Doctorate from Mercer University School of Law in 1999. Ponder is a member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, GA.

Tabitha Ponder currently staffs the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee and serves as a Special Master for Cobb County Superior Court. Ponder spent the majority of her legal career as the head of a legal practice that operates throughout Georgia. She previously worked as an Insurance Defense Attorney for Clyatt, Clyatt, & Golden in Valdosta, GA, an Indigent Defense Attorney for the Tift Judicial Circuit, and an adjunct professor at Albany State University.

Has experience as a Magistrate Judge, insurance defense counsel, assistant public defender, and head of a law firm aiding the injured and assisting with real estate.

Said, "For the majority of my legal career, I have owned and operated a successful small law office, wherein we focus on helping individuals who are injured, injured consumers, and families with real estate needs."

- Has experience as a Magistrate Judge, insurance defense counsel, assistant public defender, and head of a law firm aiding the injured and assisting with real estate.
- Said, "I currently staff the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee... I continue to serve as a Special Master for Cobb County Superior Court..."
- Said, "For the majority of my legal career, I have owned and operated a successful small law office, wherein we focus on helping individuals who are injured, injured consumers, and families with real estate needs."

- Said, "I am a passionate member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, where I serve in the Youth Ministry. I enjoy spending time with my family, singing, and Latin dancing."
- Believes in community involvement through active participation in legal associations, volunteer leadership, and service in local organizations, including the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Cobb County NAACP.

Tabitha Ponder was born and raised in Moultrie, Georgia, where she attended Colquitt County High School and graduated in 1992. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Albany State University in 1996 and a Juris Doctorate from Mercer University School of Law in 1999. The daughter of Rev. C.L. Ponder, Jr., a local pastor, she was brought up with strong values of faith, hard work, and fairness. Details about her current church attendance or family life are not provided.

Tabitha Ponder is a legal professional with a Juris Doctorate from Mercer University School of Law, obtained in 1999. She is currently a candidate for the Georgia Court of Appeals Judge position. Her professional background prior to running for judge is not specified in the provided information.

As of April 3, 2024, Tabitha Ponder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- The Court of Appeals hears nearly all types of cases appealed from a lower-level trial-level court, such as Superior Court, Magistrate Court, and State Court. The Court of Appeals does not hear appeals on murder, constitutional questions, and criminal cases where the Georgia Supreme Court has jurisdiction.
- Cases before the Court of Appeals are decided by a three-judge panel. 
- Judges on the Georgia Court of Appeals are elected to six-year terms. Elections are nonpartisan and statewide. The Governor can appoint Court of Appeals Judges when vacancies arise.