Trellis, Judge Shawn F. Bratton

Shawn was born and raised in Gwinnett County. He earned his bachelor's degree in German from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law. Following law school, Bratton served as a law clerk on the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Shawn most recently served as a Magistrate Court Judge in Gwinnett County. Previously, he worked as a civil litigator in private practice, a solicitor for the Gwinnett County Solicitor's Office, and an assistant district attorney (DA) for the Walton County DA's Office. Before his time as an attorney, he served as a Nuclear Missile Technician in the U.S. Navy.

Shawn Bratton is a State Court Judge in Gwinnett County. The governor first appointed him to the position in 2014, and he is serving his third term. 

In private practice as a civil litigator, Bratton tried cases dealing with a variety of issues, including personal injury, corporate and business litigation, banking law, domestic law, and criminal defense cases.

As a prosecutor for Walton County, Bratton prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases.

As a part-time Magistrate Court Judge, Bratton handled motions and hearings that had to occur before civil and criminal cases could go forward.

- In private practice as a civil litigator, Bratton tried cases dealing with a variety of issues, including personal injury, corporate and business litigation, banking law, domestic law, and criminal defense cases.
- As a prosecutor for Walton County, Bratton prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases.
- As a part-time Magistrate Court Judge, Bratton handled motions and hearings that had to occur before civil and criminal cases could go forward.

Legal Experience

As of April 23, 2024, Shawn Bratton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Gwinnett Daily Post, Gwinnett's Judicial Candidates 

Said, "My philosophy on sentencing is to look to the most minimally invasive sentence that will result in this person’s never engaging in that behavior again. Sometimes it is a jail sentence, but more often that not it is a term of probation with varying assignments by way of classes, community service and drug or alcohol testing."

Approaches cases with the goal of reducing the rates of recidivism (re-conviction).

- Said, "My philosophy on sentencing is to look to the most minimally invasive sentence that will result in this person’s never engaging in that behavior again. Sometimes it is a jail sentence, but more often that not it is a term of probation with varying assignments by way of classes, community service and drug or alcohol testing."
- Approaches cases with the goal of reducing the rates of recidivism (re-conviction).

Judicial Philosophy

Judicial Administration

Shawn Fitzpatrick Bratton

Founding member of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett Mosaic.

Member of the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges,  Gwinnett County Budget Judge, Gwinnett County DUI Treatment Court, the Council State Court Judges, Gwinnett County Bar Association.

Member of the Gwinnett County Schools’ Superintendent Business Leaders Council and the Suwanee Elementary School Council.

- Founding member of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett Mosaic.
- Member of the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges,  Gwinnett County Budget Judge, Gwinnett County DUI Treatment Court, the Council State Court Judges, Gwinnett County Bar Association.
- Member of the Gwinnett County Schools’ Superintendent Business Leaders Council and the Suwanee Elementary School Council.

Community Involvement

LinkedIn

Shawn Bratton

- In private practice as a civil litigator, Bratton tried cases dealing with a variety of issues, including personal injury, corporate and business litigation, banking law, domestic law, and criminal defense cases.
- As a prosecutor for Walton County, Bratton prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases.

Ballot Pedia

Shawn is from Gwinnett. He received his bachelor's in German from the University of Georgia and his juris doctorate from Georgia State University College of Law. He is married with 2 children and is raising his children to speak English, German, and Spanish.

Shawn was previously a part-time Magistrate Court Judge and an attorney at multiple firms including Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, McGarity Group, Shawn F. Bratton, P.C., Gwinnett County Solicitor, and Walton County District Attorney. He was also a clerk for the late Hon. Harris Adams at the Georgia Court of Appeals, for the Federal Defender Program, Inc., for a firm in Cologne, Germany, and for Georgia lawyer Bobby Lee Cook. He served in the Navy as a missile technician.

Shawn Bratton is currently a State Court Judge in Gwinnett County. He was appointed in 2014 and is currently serving his third term. 

Worked as a prosecutor for Gwinnett and Walton counties and for the cities of Suwanee, Duluth, and Lawrenceville, where he prosecuted  felony and misdemeanor cases.

As an attorney at Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, he litigated civil cases, including condemnation, debt collection, land-lord tenant, personal injury, contract law, wrongful death, and zoning matters.

As an attorney at McGarity Group, he focused on civil litigation, personal injury, corporate defense, domestic litigation, and criminal defense cases.

Opened a private practice in 2006 for one year and handled criminal defense and general civil litigation.

Helped form the Gwinnett County DUI Court Treatment Program and was selected by the Council of Accountability Court Judges to serve as a Peer Reviewer for Georgia's DUI Courts.

Said, "In 2022 alone I tried three medical malpractice cases within a three-month timeframe, two of them within the same month. You cannot do that without a background in litigation and years of experience."

He graduated from Shiloh High School and competed in the Georgia Mock Trial Competition during his junior and senior years. He was awarded third place finalist in the regional American Trial Lawyers Association Mock Trial Competition in 2003.

- Worked as a prosecutor for Gwinnett and Walton counties and for the cities of Suwanee, Duluth, and Lawrenceville, where he prosecuted  felony and misdemeanor cases.
- As an attorney at Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, he litigated civil cases, including condemnation, debt collection, land-lord tenant, personal injury, contract law, wrongful death, and zoning matters.
- As an attorney at McGarity Group, he focused on civil litigation, personal injury, corporate defense, domestic litigation, and criminal defense cases.
- Opened a private practice in 2006 for one year and handled criminal defense and general civil litigation.
- Helped form the Gwinnett County DUI Court Treatment Program and was selected by the Council of Accountability Court Judges to serve as a Peer Reviewer for Georgia's DUI Courts.
- Said, "In 2022 alone I tried three medical malpractice cases within a three-month timeframe, two of them within the same month. You cannot do that without a background in litigation and years of experience."
- He graduated from Shiloh High School and competed in the Georgia Mock Trial Competition during his junior and senior years. He was awarded third place finalist in the regional American Trial Lawyers Association Mock Trial Competition in 2003.

Said, "Our biggest challenge, as I see it, is not to lose sight of the idea that basic civility and decency towards one another should be paramount in addressing all other problems."

- Said, "Our biggest challenge, as I see it, is not to lose sight of the idea that basic civility and decency towards one another should be paramount in addressing all other problems."

Said, "My philosophy...is to look to the most minimally invasive sentence that will result in this person’s never engaging in that behavior again. Sometimes it is a jail sentence, but more often than not it is a term of probation with varying assignments."

The candidate's website states, "Judge Bratton has held a life-long commitment to global diversity."

- Said, "My philosophy...is to look to the most minimally invasive sentence that will result in this person’s never engaging in that behavior again. Sometimes it is a jail sentence, but more often than not it is a term of probation with varying assignments."
- The candidate's website states, "Judge Bratton has held a life-long commitment to global diversity."

Said, "There are always issues we strive to perfect in our court system. Mental health , translators, a shortage of court reporters, etc. We have great collaboration and have several committees within the county and across the state addressing these concerns."

- Said, "There are always issues we strive to perfect in our court system. Mental health , translators, a shortage of court reporters, etc. We have great collaboration and have several committees within the county and across the state addressing these concerns."

Founding member of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett Mosaic and was recognized for outstanding dedication and service as Membership Chairman.

Member of the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges,  the Gwinnett County Budget Judge, and the Council State Court Judges.

While in the Navy, he earned the Navy Achievement Medal for his role in combating an onboard fire, as well as the Bluejacket of the Patrol for being the number one enlisted person for his final strategic patrol.

Received a Certificate of Excellence from the Gwinnett County Bar Association.

- Founding member of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett Mosaic and was recognized for outstanding dedication and service as Membership Chairman.
- Member of the Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges,  the Gwinnett County Budget Judge, and the Council State Court Judges.
- Member of the Gwinnett County Schools’ Superintendent Business Leaders Council and the Suwanee Elementary School Council.
- While in the Navy, he earned the Navy Achievement Medal for his role in combating an onboard fire, as well as the Bluejacket of the Patrol for being the number one enlisted person for his final strategic patrol.
- Received a Certificate of Excellence from the Gwinnett County Bar Association.

Shawn is from Gwinnett. He received his bachelors in German from the University of Georgia and his juris doctorate from Georgia State University College of Law.

Shawn was previously an attorney at Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, an attorney at McGarity Group, an attorney at Shawn F. Bratton, P.C., and an attorney for Gwinnett County Solicitor and Walton County District Attorney. He also clerked for the late Hon. Harris Adams at the Georgia Court of Appeals, for the Federal Defender Program, Inc, for a firm in Cologne, Germany, and for Georgia lawyer Bobby Lee Cook. He served in the Navy.

Shawn Bratton is currently a State Court Judge in Gwinnett County. He was elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. 

Was a part-time Magistrate Court Judge for 2 years before becoming a state court judege.

Worked as a prosecutor for Gwinnett and Walton counties and for the cities of Suwanee, Duluth and Lawrenceville, where he prosecuted  felony and misdemeanor cases.

At Mahaffey Pickens Tucker (2010-2014), he handled personal injury, corportate and business litigation, banking law, domestic law, and criminal defense cases.

Joined McGarity Group in 2006, where he focused on civil litigation, personal injury, corportate defense, domestic litigation, and crimnal defense cases.

Opened his private practice in 2006 for one year and handled criminal defense and general civil litigation.

- Was a part-time Magistrate Court Judge for 2 years before becoming a state court judege.
- Worked as a prosecutor for Gwinnett and Walton counties and for the cities of Suwanee, Duluth and Lawrenceville, where he prosecuted  felony and misdemeanor cases.
- At Mahaffey Pickens Tucker (2010-2014), he handled personal injury, corportate and business litigation, banking law, domestic law, and criminal defense cases.
- Joined McGarity Group in 2006, where he focused on civil litigation, personal injury, corportate defense, domestic litigation, and crimnal defense cases.
- Opened his private practice in 2006 for one year and handled criminal defense and general civil litigation.

- Said, "My philosophy on sentencing is to look to the most minimally invasive sentence that will result in this person’s never engaging in that behavior again. Sometimes it is a jail sentence, but more often that not it is a term of probation with varying assignments by way of classes, community service and drug or alcohol testing."

- 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. 
