Ballotpedia, Ana Maria Martinez

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Women’s History Month: First Latina State Court judge wants more representation

Serves as a state court judge since 2022.

Runs the only Spanish-speaking DUI (driving under the influence) court in the state.

Worked as a staff attorney in DeKalb state court for eight years.

Experienced in consumer warranty law; premises, professional, and product liability; general personal injury defense; and employment law.

Has a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law.

- Serves as a state court judge since 2022.
- Runs the only Spanish-speaking DUI (driving under the influence) court in the state.
- Worked as a staff attorney in DeKalb state court for eight years.
- Experienced in consumer warranty law; premises, professional, and product liability; general personal injury defense; and employment law.
- Has a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law.

Legal Experience

As of April 23, 2024, Ana Maria Martinez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Said, “Justice is a function of perception, and when defendants go into a courtroom they want to know that whoever is listening to them understands where they’re coming from.”

- Said, “Justice is a function of perception, and when defendants go into a courtroom they want to know that whoever is listening to them understands where they’re coming from.”

Judicial Philosophy

Georgia Courts Journal, Judge Ana Maria Martinez: Continuing Her Family Legacy, Supporting the Latin Community, and Serving the Public in So Many Ways

Hopes to eliminate the pandemic backlog in criminal cases.

- Hopes to eliminate the pandemic backlog in criminal cases.

Judicial Administration

Co-founder of the Georgia Latino Law Foundation, an organization created in 2015 to increase Latino diversity in the legal profession.

Has served on the boards of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, the Multi-Bar Leadership Council, Judge Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court, and the DeKalb Bar Association.

- Co-founder of the Georgia Latino Law Foundation, an organization created in 2015 to increase Latino diversity in the legal profession.
- Has served on the boards of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, the Multi-Bar Leadership Council, Judge Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court, and the DeKalb Bar Association.

Community Involvement

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Ana Maria Martinez

Believes in aiding the underprivileged through law; gained experience in disability, guardianship, and benefits at Florida Coastal School of Law and tackled personal injury, litigation, and bankruptcy at John Moore Law Group.

Served as an Assistant Solicitor General for DeKalb County Solicitor-General's Office. Assistant Solicitor Generals conduct case research and preparation for trial. Tyshawn focused on misdemeanor cases. 

Believes in proactive legal intervention, having prosecuted misdemeanors, high-risk domestic violence, and firearm-related felonies, while also leading community initiatives to curb gun violence in DeKalb County.

Served as an Assistant District Attorney of the Dekalb County District Attorney's Office. Assistant District Attorneys conduct criminal prosecutions for the county district attorney's office. Tyshawn focused on traffic cases.  

Believes in the value of legal experience, having refined writing skills as a clerk for Judge Asha F. Jackson and managing traffic cases as an Assistant District Attorney with numerous bench trials.

Served as a law clerk in the Superior Court of DeKalb County. Law clerks research and analyze cases, review files, and manage support documentation.

As Senior Assistant District Attorney, Tyshawn manages work performed by Assistant District Attorneys related to prosecution of offenses, including traffic infractions, violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. Tyshawn currently heads the Firearm Violence Prevention Unit.

Served as an Assistant Solicitor General for DeKalb County Solicitor-General's Office. Assistant Solicitor Generals conduct case research and preparation for trial. Tyshawn focused on misdemeanor cases.

Served as an Assistant District Attorney of the Dekalb County District Attorney's Office. Assistant District Attorneys conduct criminal prosecutions for the county district attorney's office. Tyshawn focused on traffic cases.

- As Senior Assistant District Attorney, Tyshawn manages work performed by Assistant District Attorneys related to prosecution of offenses, including traffic infractions, violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. Tyshawn currently heads the Firearm Violence Prevention Unit.
- Served as an Assistant Solicitor General for DeKalb County Solicitor-General's Office. Assistant Solicitor Generals conduct case research and preparation for trial. Tyshawn focused on misdemeanor cases.
- Served as an Assistant District Attorney of the Dekalb County District Attorney's Office. Assistant District Attorneys conduct criminal prosecutions for the county district attorney's office. Tyshawn focused on traffic cases.
- Served as a law clerk in the Superior Court of DeKalb County. Law clerks research and analyze cases, review files, and manage support documentation.

Candidate Q&A – State Court of DeKalb County

Said, "if elected, I unequivocally promise to conduct myself in an ethical and transparent manner."

- Said, "if elected, I unequivocally promise to conduct myself in an ethical and transparent manner."

Said, "I was called to serve justice after losing my mother to gun violence at the hands of her domestic partner when I was nine years old...Throughout my career, I have aspired to...[seek] justice for victims and accountability for those who do harm."

Promises to institute a Domestic Violence Accountability Court to address domestic violence in the county.

Said, "I am committed to using this platform to uphold the principles that have been instilled in me since childhood by the legal system: justice, fairness, and integrity."

Said, "I am committed to following the principles enshrined in our Constitution and statues and rendering decisions grounded in legal principles rather than personal beliefs."

Said, "an ideal judicial demeanor involves displaying judicial temperament that inspires confidence in the legal system, conveying authority, fairness, and impartiality."

- Said, "I was called to serve justice after losing my mother to gun violence at the hands of her domestic partner when I was nine years old...Throughout my career, I have aspired to...[seek] justice for victims and accountability for those who do harm."
- Promises to institute a Domestic Violence Accountability Court to address domestic violence in the county.
- Said, "I am committed to using this platform to uphold the principles that have been instilled in me since childhood by the legal system: justice, fairness, and integrity."
- Said, "I am committed to following the principles enshrined in our Constitution and statues and rendering decisions grounded in legal principles rather than personal beliefs."
- Said, "an ideal judicial demeanor involves displaying judicial temperament that inspires confidence in the legal system, conveying authority, fairness, and impartiality."

In regards to backlog, promises to prioritize the oldest cases while continuing to schedule new cases within a "realistic timeframe."

Proposes "setting realistic timelines for hearings and trials, implementing efficient scheduling practices, and utilizing technology to expedite administrative tasks."

Promises to foster an environment of collaboration, coordination, and communication to "optimize the functioning of the court."

Promises to invest in court staff training and professional development programs on case management, legal procedures, and technology.

Promises to use mediation and arbitration, when appropriate, to expedite cases.

- In regards to backlog, promises to prioritize the oldest cases while continuing to schedule new cases within a "realistic timeframe."
- Proposes "setting realistic timelines for hearings and trials, implementing efficient scheduling practices, and utilizing technology to expedite administrative tasks."
- Promises to foster an environment of collaboration, coordination, and communication to "optimize the functioning of the court."
- Promises to invest in court staff training and professional development programs on case management, legal procedures, and technology.
- Promises to use mediation and arbitration, when appropriate, to expedite cases.

Serves on the board of directors for DeKalb Pro Bono and provides guidance on pro bono legal assistance to low-income families in DeKalb County.

The candidate's website says, "Tyshawn is a proud resident of the South DeKalb community... She is a proud member of the Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, the Junior League of DeKalb County, and the Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporation."

Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) DeKalb Section, the Junior League of DeKalb County, and the Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporation. 

Worked over four-hundred hours of pro bono legal services at the Disability and Public Benefits Clinic while attending Florida Coastal School of Law.

- Serves on the board of directors for DeKalb Pro Bono and provides guidance on pro bono legal assistance to low-income families in DeKalb County.
- Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) DeKalb County Branch, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) DeKalb Section, the Junior League of DeKalb County, and the Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporation. 
- Worked over four-hundred hours of pro bono legal services at the Disability and Public Benefits Clinic while attending Florida Coastal School of Law.

Tyshawn Yvonne Jackson

- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court. 
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases. 
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise. 
