experience

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Jefferson, GA 

Firm Partner 2017-Present

Following the appointment of Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm, my former law partner, I opened a solo domestic and criminal trial practice and mediation services office. 

Represents clients in family law matters and criminal defense, which includes felonies, misdemeanors, actions for divorce, custody, visitation, child support issues contempt, and deprivation/dependency actions. 

§ Provides criminal defense to individuals and entities in criminal investigations and in the prosecution of misdemeanors or felonies in both federal and state court.

Handles all facets of the litigation process, from inception through resolution, including but not limited to client meetings, document preparation and drafting, research, discovery, case strategy, deposition, settlement or plea negotiations, and trial.

Digitized the firm’s file system creating a mobile file system that rendered the document available anywhere at anytime, creating a virtual office environment.

City of Jefferson

Chief Judge 2018-Present

Associate Judge 2010-2017

Solicitor 2003-2007  

Presides over Municipal Court for misdemeanors, city ordinances, traffic violations, property and land use matters, criminal non-jury trials, and other violations committed within the city limits of Jefferson, performing judicial duties in the interpretation, application, and enforcement of local ordinances and state laws.

Reviews and signs, summons, subpoenas, affidavits for search and arrest warrants, appeal bonds, prisoner transfer documentation, and affidavits; levies fine and bail; issues warrants, summons, and set bonds; arraigns prisoners held in jail; prepares and analyzes comprehensive legal documents; examines evidence in criminal cases; and presides over and administers justice in the disposition of cases, presides over bench trials.

Represented the City of Jefferson and its employees as a Solicitor prosecuting city ordinance violations, traffic violations, criminal misdemeanors, and land use violations, with responsibilities for independently conducting discovery and investigation of claims, attending court conferences, drafting appropriate pleadings, court memoranda, discovery, and dispositive motions, negotiating settlements, and representing the City at trial.

Adjunct Professor 

2019-current

Georgia Trial Court Practice Course

Teaching trial techniques to promising young lawyers.  Subjects include trial preparation, organization, jury selection, opening statements, direct and cross examinations of witnesses, introducing and handling of exhibits, expert witnesses, closing statements, motions practice, courtroom etiquette, decorum and personal mannerisms.   

Each session includes a classroom instructional component, specific to Georgia court rules and procedure as well as opportunity for student performance integrating doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics.

Solo & Small Firm Practice Course

Teaching the finer points of solo  and small practice.  This course teaches the skills and prioritized steps necessary to thrive either as a solo practitioner or a young associate in a small firm. Students will study how to profitably build their own virtual law firm, combining theory, pragmatic implementation and real life examples from small firm owners. 

Jefferson, GA 

Firm Partner 2009-2017

Represents clients in family law matters and criminal defense, which includes felonies, misdemeanors, actions for divorce, custody, visitation, child support issues contempt, and deprivation/dependency actions. 

§ Provides criminal defense to individuals and entities in criminal investigations and in the prosecution of misdemeanors or felonies in both federal and state court.

Handles all facets of the litigation process, from inception through resolution, including but not limited to client meetings, document preparation and drafting, research, discovery, case strategy, deposition, settlement or plea negotiations, and trial.

Digitized the firm’s file system creating a mobile file system that rendered the document available anywhere at anytime, creating a virtual office environment.

City of Arcade

Chief Judge 2007-Present 

Presides over Municipal Court to dispense the impartial adjudication of municipal ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and misdemeanor offenses, building and zoning code violations, and other code violations occurring within the city limits of the City of Arcade.

City of Nicholson

Chief Judge 2019-Present 

Presides over Municipal Court to dispense the impartial adjudication of municipal ordinance violations building and zoning code violations, and other code violations occurring within the city limits of the City of Nicholson.

Jefferson, GA 

Firm Partner 2005-2009

Represents clients in family law matters and criminal defense, which includes felonies, misdemeanors, actions for divorce, custody, visitation, child support issues contempt, and deprivation/dependency actions. 

§ Provides criminal defense to individuals and entities in criminal investigations and in the prosecution of misdemeanors or felonies in both federal and state court.

Handles all facets of the litigation process, from inception through resolution, including but not limited to client meetings, document preparation and drafting, research, discovery, case strategy, deposition, settlement or plea negotiations, and trial.

Assists with the firm’s administrative and operational duties, including accounts receivable/payable, payroll, Human Resources, physical facility, technology, and managed three law offices, associate attorneys, and staff from 2006-2009.

Digitized the firm’s file system creating a mobile file system that rendered the document available anywhere at anytime, creating a virtual office environment.

 City of Pendergrass

2005-2007 

Advised and represented the City of Pendergrass and its employees, before government agencies and in legal matters; conducted research and discovery; prepared pleadings and motions; presented evidence to prosecute defendants; negotiated settlements; and presented cases before the Municipal Court.

 Piedmont Judicial Circuit

2003-2005 

  Prepared cases for trial by researching case law, preparing indictments and accusations, presenting evidence to the Grand Jury, preparing and arguing briefs, motions, appellate briefs, and forfeitures, taking cases before the Courts in jury trials, bench trials, and hearings in Superior Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court and Juvenile Court.

Negotiated pleas and settlements with defense counsel to meet the needs of victims and their families.

§ Assisted with office administration of personnel, budget, and office resources (The Banks County office was a single attorney office with three (3) support staff positions).

Atlantic Judicial Circuit - First Judicial District

Intern 2002 

Worked under the Third-Year Practice Act in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, a six-county circuit, receiving practical experience handling felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile cases.

Handled responsibilities that included case preparation, subpoenaing witnesses, plea negotiations, jury selection, grand jury presentation, trial briefs, arguments in court, witness preparation, case investigation, legal research, and coordinating with police agencies and Probation and Department of Juvenile Justice.

  Performed legal research for criminal and civil cases; drafted complaints, answers, and motions; participated in court observation, jail interviews, client and witness interviews; and provided Lexis Nexis training to attorneys and staff.

Sarasota

1990-1997