Servant leadership mentality combined with passion and trustworthiness.

Draws from prior experience in middle and high school education, as well as background in criminal and civil litigation, with a family law concentration.

- Servant leadership mentality combined with passion and trustworthiness.
- Draws from prior experience in middle and high school education, as well as background in criminal and civil litigation, with a family law concentration.

Worldview

Presides over the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Accountability Court, providing felony, non-violent offenders with a pre-mental health diagnosis to undergo an 18-24 month program with a rehabilitation outcome upon completion.

Believes a judge should provide independent, fair and competent jurisprudence in addition to interpreting and applying the laws that govern our community.

- Presides over the Fulton County Behavioral Health Treatment Accountability Court, providing felony, non-violent offenders with a pre-mental health diagnosis to undergo an 18-24 month program with a rehabilitation outcome upon completion.
- Believes a judge should provide independent, fair and competent jurisprudence in addition to interpreting and applying the laws that govern our community.

Judicial Philosophy

Former English teacher at the Davidson Fine Arts School.

Former Chair of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section.

Annual lecturer before the Superior Court Council.

- Metro Atlanta resident since 2001.
- Former English teacher at the Davidson Fine Arts School.
- Former law school adjunct professor.
- Former Chair of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section.
- Annual lecturer before the Superior Court Council.

Community Involvement

Rebecca Rieder

Father was murdered at 7 years old and justice was never served. The introduction of a 7 year old to the justice system in addition to seeing injustice during her 10 years as a prosecutor is what sparked her desire to be a judge.

- Father was murdered at 7 years old and justice was never served. The introduction of a 7 year old to the justice system in addition to seeing injustice during her 10 years as a prosecutor is what sparked her desire to be a judge.

Expand access to resources like clinics and centers that actually help people through the system

Increase the use of Fulton County’s accountability courts

- Expand criminal justice reform
- Expand access to resources like clinics and centers that actually help people through the system
- Increase the use of Fulton County’s accountability courts

Judicial Administration

Believes we should use the same amount of money we spend to prosecute a low level drug offender and instead spend it on getting that person treatment

Would use power as judge to advocate for increased funding to accountability courts, and use power of sentencing to order more people to diversion programs that are partners in the community (not costing taxpayers) instead of sending someone to jail

- Believes we should use the same amount of money we spend to prosecute a low level drug offender and instead spend it on getting that person treatment
- Would use power as judge to advocate for increased funding to accountability courts, and use power of sentencing to order more people to diversion programs that are partners in the community (not costing taxpayers) instead of sending someone to jail

Board co-chair of Impact Church 501c3 to improve education, food deserts, and resources in at-risk and poor neighborhoods

Junior League member and sorority alum with hands-on experiences for food distribution, knowing legal rights, housing resources, and other quality of life issues

Reading program and career days at various schools

Adjunct professor at Spelman college and mentor many young women through Spelman

- Board co-chair of Impact Church 501c3 to improve education, food deserts, and resources in at-risk and poor neighborhoods
- Junior League member and sorority alum with hands-on experiences for food distribution, knowing legal rights, housing resources, and other quality of life issues
- Reading program and career days at various schools
- Mentor in various organizations
- Adjunct professor at Spelman college and mentor many young women through Spelman

Shermela Williams

The Superior Court is the highest trial level court in the judiciary system of Georgia, which means it is just one step below the Supreme Court of Georgia. Comprised of two sides, it handles both civil and criminal cases

Highest trial court in Fulton, ruling on cases such as murder, assault, divorce, and adoption