Candidate Q&A – State Court of DeKalb County

Patch, Dionne McGee Running For State Court Judge

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As a senior assistant DA, McGee prosecutes cases and oversees the work performed by assistant DAs around the prosecution of offenses, including traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felonies.

As founder and attorney at McGee Law, Dionne litigated cases dealing with criminal defense, family law and personal injury.

Has practiced law in State and Superior Courts of nine counties, the Office of State Administrative Hearings, and municipal courts throughout the Atlanta metro area.

Has had a caseload of 300-400 cases as a prosecutor in the State Court of DeKalb County.

- As a senior assistant DA, McGee prosecutes cases and oversees the work performed by assistant DAs around the prosecution of offenses, including traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felonies.
- As founder and attorney at McGee Law, Dionne litigated cases dealing with criminal defense, family law and personal injury.
- Has practiced law in State and Superior Courts of nine counties, the Office of State Administrative Hearings, and municipal courts throughout the Atlanta metro area.
- Has had a caseload of 300-400 cases as a prosecutor in the State Court of DeKalb County.

Legal Experience

As of June 8, 2024, Dionne McGee’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Said, "Exercising patience and treating everyone with dignity and respect are the hallmarks of an ideal judicial demeanor."

Promises to "protect each individual's civil and constitutional rights without regard to their age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual preference. "

- Said, "Exercising patience and treating everyone with dignity and respect are the hallmarks of an ideal judicial demeanor."
- Promises to "protect each individual's civil and constitutional rights without regard to their age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual preference. "

Judicial Philosophy

Supports accountability courts, misdemeanor veterans court program, and other rehabilitation programs to address crime.

Will use technology to manage cases, such as using Zoom for pre-trial conferences, status hearings, and calendar calls.

Promises to oversee a court with an emphasis on transparency, efficiency, impartiality, respect, and the need to promote public trust in the judicial process.

- Plans to reduce the backlog of cases.
- Supports accountability courts, misdemeanor veterans court program, and other rehabilitation programs to address crime.
- Will use technology to manage cases, such as using Zoom for pre-trial conferences, status hearings, and calendar calls.
- Promises to oversee a court with an emphasis on transparency, efficiency, impartiality, respect, and the need to promote public trust in the judicial process.

Judicial Administration

Member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers.

Volunteers on the Principal Advisory Council for the DeKalb School of the Arts and is a member of the DeKalb section of the National Council of Negro Women.

Has volunteered as a pro bono attorney with the Georgia Appleseed Foundation representing foster children in student tribunal hearings.

- Member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers.
- Volunteers on the Principal Advisory Council for the DeKalb School of the Arts and is a member of the DeKalb section of the National Council of Negro Women.
- Has volunteered as a pro bono attorney with the Georgia Appleseed Foundation representing foster children in student tribunal hearings.

Community Involvement

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Dionne McGee

Decaturish, Candidate Q&A

Fulton County, Yolanda Mack

As the deputy DA in Fulton County, Mack evaluates, mentors, and leads a team of senior assistant DAs in prosecuting felony cases of sexual assault.

As deputy chief DA in Dekalb County, Mack prosecuted felony cases involving intimate partner domestic violence, adult sexual assault, and domestic violence homicides.

Has more than 25 years of experience as a litigation attorney and has had a caseload of 300 cases or more.

Practiced in the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Superior Court of Fulton County, Superior Court of Barrow County, and the Superior Court of Jackson County.

As deputy of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit in the DeKalb DA's Office, Mack supervised a unit of lawyers, investigators, and paralegals that advocated on behalf of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

- As the deputy DA in Fulton County, Mack evaluates, mentors, and leads a team of senior assistant DAs in prosecuting felony cases of sexual assault.
- As deputy chief DA in Dekalb County, Mack prosecuted felony cases involving intimate partner domestic violence, adult sexual assault, and domestic violence homicides.
- Has more than 25 years of experience as a litigation attorney and has had a caseload of 300 cases or more.
- Practiced in the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Superior Court of Fulton County, Superior Court of Barrow County, and the Superior Court of Jackson County.
- As deputy of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit in the DeKalb DA's Office, Mack supervised a unit of lawyers, investigators, and paralegals that advocated on behalf of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

As of June 8, 2024, Yolanda Mack’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "An ideal judicial demeanor is someone that is prepared, knowledgeable, patient, and always showing respect to the lawyers and the litigants that appear before me."

- Said, "An ideal judicial demeanor is someone that is prepared, knowledgeable, patient, and always showing respect to the lawyers and the litigants that appear before me."

Plans to launch a domestic violence accountability court.

Promises to reduce case backlog by scheduling cases in a timely manner, creating a scheduling order, ruling on motions in a timely manner, and having a judicial assistant and criminal case manager.

- Plans to launch a domestic violence accountability court.
- Promises to reduce case backlog by scheduling cases in a timely manner, creating a scheduling order, ruling on motions in a timely manner, and having a judicial assistant and criminal case manager.

Board member of the International Women’s House, a domestic violence shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

Member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, the National Association of Black Prosecutors, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the DeKalb Bar Association, and DeKalb Lawyers Association.

Was previously a member of the DeKalb County Domestic Violence Task Force and the Sexual Assault Response Team.

- Board member of the International Women’s House, a domestic violence shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
- Member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, the National Association of Black Prosecutors, Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the DeKalb Bar Association, and DeKalb Lawyers Association.
- Was previously a member of the DeKalb County Domestic Violence Task Force and the Sexual Assault Response Team.

Yolanda Mack

- 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. 
