IN THE PROFESSION
New Judges in Metro Atlanta
Fulton County
Three former prosecutors join the Fulton County Superior Court bench as new Judges. In June 2026, Governor Brian P. Kemp selected two judicial appointments for Fulton Superior Court of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, the Honorable Debbie-Ann R. Rickman to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Shermela Williams and David H. Emadi to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Jane C. Barwick. Additionally, recently elected Nikia Smith Sellers to the seat previously served by the Honorable Paige Reese Whitaker now at the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Hon. Debbie-Ann Rickman
Judge Debbie-Ann R. Rickman previously served as a Magistrate Judge in Fulton Count. Judge Rickman began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. She later joined the DeKalb County Solicitor- General ' s Office as an Assistant Solicitor-General where she was recognized as the 2017 prosecuting attorney of the year. Judge Rickman was a member of the Benchbook Committee for the Council of Magistrate Court Judges and previously served as co-chair of the Public Affairs Committee for the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, of which she remains a member. She is a Master of the Logan E. Bleckley Inn of Court and a member of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Judge Rickman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with honors, from Florida International University and a Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their eleven-year-old son.
Hon. David H. Emadi
David H. Emadi has served since 2019 as the Director of the State Ethics Commission of Georgia, investigating, regulating, and prosecuting violations of campaign finance laws by elected officials, candidates for public office, lobbyists, and special interest groups. David spent seven years in the District Attorney ' s Office of Douglas County including service as the Chief Assistant District Attorney for the judicial circuit. Previously, Judge Emadi spent time as a Major League Baseball scout with the Cincinnati Reds organization. In 2017, he was named a Rising Star by the Daily Report as one of the top 30 lawyers in Georgia under the age of 40. Judge Emadi earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law where he currently serves on the Board of Alumni.
8 JULY / AUGUST 2026