LinkedIn

Candidate website

Believes in continuous legal education, holding a law degree from Cumberland School of Law (1993), a bachelor's from Mercer University (1990), and training in victim advocacy, substance abuse, mental health, and management.

Said, "During my law career, I have extensive experience in state and federal trial work as well as extensive appellate experience... I have spent the last decade representing clients in family law, real estate, probate, employment, contract, and business transaction cases... My emphasis has always been on... doing my utmost to represent their interest and perspective before the court."

Has experience in state and federal trial work as well as extensive appellate experience. 

Said, "I am a Registered Mediator since 2020 in civil, domestic, and juvenile matters... I am, and have served as, a Guardian ad Litem for many years in both Superior and Juvenile Court..."

Has been a Registered Mediator since 2020 in civil, domestic, and juvenile matters, and served as, a Guardian ad Litem in both Superior and Juvenile Court.

Believes in a robust legal career, with 30 years in Georgia law, including a stint as a law clerk, founding Four Points, Inc., and 11 years at Palmour Law Firm in Summerville.

Has practiced law in Georgia for 30 years, including work as a law clerk, founding and serving as executive director of Four Points, Inc., and 11 years at Palmour Law Firm in Summerville.

Believes in diverse legal experience, transitioning from full-time Associate Magistrate Judge in Walker County to private practice at Palmour Law, and now presides part-time while offering on-call service.

Served as a full-time Associate Magistrate Judge in Walker County, helping with warrants, bond, and civil matters, but has worked part-time since 2020.

Represented a wide variety of clients and interests during law career, including "clients in family law, real estate, probate, employment, contract, and business transaction cases."

- Has experience in state and federal trial work as well as extensive appellate experience. 
- Has been a Registered Mediator since 2020 in civil, domestic, and juvenile matters, and served as, a Guardian ad Litem in both Superior and Juvenile Court.
- Has practiced law in Georgia for 30 years, including work as a law clerk, founding and serving as executive director of Four Points, Inc., and 11 years at Palmour Law Firm in Summerville.
- Served as a full-time Associate Magistrate Judge in Walker County, helping with warrants, bond, and civil matters, but has worked part-time since 2020.
- Represented a wide variety of clients and interests during law career, including "clients in family law, real estate, probate, employment, contract, and business transaction cases."

Legal Experience

As of March 19, 2024, Melissa Gifford Hise’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Facebook

Plans to reform the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit to respect litigants' time, streamline case scheduling, and ensure thorough hearings, acknowledging the current system's inefficiencies and the balance between swift and fair justice.

Said, "I will conduct my courtroom in a way that will allow the litigants before to be heard completely and timely. I strive to have everyone who leaves the courtroom understand the process that has been completed and what the directions and orders of the court are going forward."

- Plans to reform the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit to respect litigants' time, streamline case scheduling, and ensure thorough hearings, acknowledging the current system's inefficiencies and the balance between swift and fair justice.
- Said, "I will conduct my courtroom in a way that will allow the litigants before to be heard completely and timely. I strive to have everyone who leaves the courtroom understand the process that has been completed and what the directions and orders of the court are going forward."

Judicial Administration

The candidate's website says, "EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY, ADHERENCE TO THE RULE OF LAW"

Said, "Knowing someone's perspective and story enables me to apply the facts as presented to the law... You must do this as the rule of law requires litigants to have the law applied to their unique facts for the proper outcome each and every time, fairly and impartially."

Said, "Knowing someone's perspective and story enables me to apply the facts as presented to the law. You must do this as the rule of law requires litigants to have the law applied to their unique facts for the proper outcome each and every time, fairly and impartially."

Said, "I strive to treat everyone with respect... It is important to me that I understand a person's perspective and outcome needs in their case... I do my best to allow to hear a person's side of the story."

Said, "I strive to treat everyone with respect... It is important to me that I understand a person's perspective and outcome needs in their case. I do my best to allow to hear a person's side of the story."

Believes that a blend of experience, respect for all parties, adherence to the law, and constitutional principles ensures fair and impartial legal outcomes, drawing on a diverse legal career, judicial roles, and mediation services.

Emphasizes "listening to the client and doing [her] utmost to represent their interest and perspective before the court."

- Said, "Knowing someone's perspective and story enables me to apply the facts as presented to the law. You must do this as the rule of law requires litigants to have the law applied to their unique facts for the proper outcome each and every time, fairly and impartially."
- Said, "I strive to treat everyone with respect... It is important to me that I understand a person's perspective and outcome needs in their case. I do my best to allow to hear a person's side of the story."
- Believes that a blend of experience, respect for all parties, adherence to the law, and constitutional principles ensures fair and impartial legal outcomes, drawing on a diverse legal career, judicial roles, and mediation services.
- Emphasizes "listening to the client and doing [her] utmost to represent their interest and perspective before the court."

Judicial Philosophy

Said, "I and my husband are lifelong residents of Walker County and active members of the Northwest Georgia community... We are raising our children here and we believe in community involvement and action..."

The candidate's website says, "Volunteers are vital to any campaign and Melissa can always use more volunteers to help in her campaign... Just a desire to help and belief in Melissa's candidacy."

Supports community involvement through volunteering, advocating for various campaign activities, and promoting engagement according to individual time commitments, emphasizing the enjoyable nature of participation.

Said, "My husband, Mark, and I have been married for 25 years and have two great children. We attend LaFayette United Methodist Church in LaFayette, Georgia. Mark and I are both active in Boy Scouts of America as volunteers."

Believes in strengthening the community by developing programs aiding families and victims in the justice system, and contributes through faith-based activities and local groups like the Boy Scouts of America.

Works with the local Boy Scouts of America.

- Works with the local Boy Scouts of America.

Community Involvement

Melissa Gifford Hise

Practiced at the Law Office of Joseph E. Willard, Jr. for past 15 years, handling bankruptcy, family law, estate law, and other matters.

- Practiced at the Law Office of Joseph E. Willard, Jr. for past 15 years, handling bankruptcy, family law, estate law, and other matters.

As of March 19, 2024, Ann Willard Fiddler’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "With regard to courtroom proceedings and efficiency, the Code of Judicial Conduct requires the judiciary to give everyone in a proceeding 'or that person’s lawyer [to have] the right to be heard' (Rule 2.6A), to 'dispose of matters promptly and efficiently.'  Further, 'judges shall require order and decorum in proceedings over which they preside.'"

- Said, "With regard to courtroom proceedings and efficiency, the Code of Judicial Conduct requires the judiciary to give everyone in a proceeding 'or that person’s lawyer [to have] the right to be heard' (Rule 2.6A), to 'dispose of matters promptly and efficiently.'  Further, 'judges shall require order and decorum in proceedings over which they preside.'"

Describes the judiciary as a place where all "should be able to carry out each task set before us in such a way that we may proudly represent the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit as one which is professional and efficient no matter the case before us - without bias or prejudice, with patience and courtesy, and promptly and efficiently."

Said, "Having patience, kindness, or even humility likewise does not mean that as a judge, I would not be able to carry out a variety of duties such as sentencing an individual appropriate for crimes, finding an individual in contempt to which incarceration must ensue, or determining that a parent shall not have any contact with their child."

- Describes the judiciary as a place where all "should be able to carry out each task set before us in such a way that we may proudly represent the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit as one which is professional and efficient no matter the case before us - without bias or prejudice, with patience and courtesy, and promptly and efficiently."
- Said, "Having patience, kindness, or even humility likewise does not mean that as a judge, I would not be able to carry out a variety of duties such as sentencing an individual appropriate for crimes, finding an individual in contempt to which incarceration must ensue, or determining that a parent shall not have any contact with their child."

President of the Lookout Mountain Bar Association of Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, & Walker Counties.

Has provided free or reduced cost legal representation for the Georgia Legal Services Program, Drug Court and Mental Health Court participants, and Brainerd Baptist Church.

Participates in the school governance teams for Battlefield Elementary School and Heritage Middle School in Catoosa County.

Teaches Sunday school and leads children's worship at Brainerd Baptist Church.

- President of the Lookout Mountain Bar Association of Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, & Walker Counties.
- Has provided free or reduced cost legal representation for the Georgia Legal Services Program, Drug Court and Mental Health Court participants, and Brainerd Baptist Church.
- Participates in the school governance teams for Battlefield Elementary School and Heritage Middle School in Catoosa County.
- Teaches Sunday school and leads children's worship at Brainerd Baptist Church.

Ann Willard Fiddler

- 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. 