appear in court , no matter their connection to pending litigation , deserve to be heard and their concerns addressed , I will continue to ensure this occurs in cases coming before me for decision . I will continue to ensure litigants and lawyers are treated with respect when they come to court , this is not only a part of my judicial philosophy , it is simply the right way to interact with other people .
GWINNETT COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT : JUDGE DEBORAH R . FLUKER
What do you anticipate will be some of the hardest adjustments you will have to make in your new role as Judge ?
I have been a Magistrate Judge since 2016 primarily presiding in Superior Court , by designation . The biggest adjustment for me will be managing the entire docket for my division and finding ways to keep cases safely moving toward a resolution during the Judicial Emergency Order . It will also be challenging to find a way to safely resume jury trials .
Since most of you had months since the mid-summer election , how did you spend the past months preparing for your new position ?
I haven ’ t had much down time since the election . I continued to preside as a Magistrate Judge through December . I was able to hire my staff and think through some court processes that I wanted to utilize to keep cases moving once I was sworn into my new position in Superior Court .
Do you have any immediate goals that are important for you to accomplish within the first six months ?
I did have a list of goals after the election , but those are ever evolving with the current state of the pandemic and the continued extension of the Judicial Emergency Order . My plan is to take one case at a time , focusing on older cases that need a final resolution and cases where individuals are being held in custody . Even if a jury trial is required for incarcerated individuals , the parties may be willing to go forward with pre-trial motions , hoping a ruling will generate further discussions about resolving the case without the need for a jury trial .
Is there someone who holds or held a similar position that you admired and plan on emulating and if so , why or what attributes of theirs do you think are important ?
Throughout my legal career , I have been blessed to appear before many jurists that have left a great impression on me and impacted by legal career . I value the time of the litigants in my courtroom and will take the bench on time . I will allow litigants an opportunity to fully and fairly present their case and endeavor to make timely rulings in cases pending before me . I will do my best to emulate those judges I have encountered over my career that display a professional and appropriate courtroom demeanor .
What will you miss most , if anything , from the practice of law or from being a prosecutor ?
I haven ’ t been a practicing attorney since 2016 when I was appointed as a full-time Magistrate Court Judge . I miss being a litigator in the courtroom and engaging with other skilled litigators . I am looking forward to when we can safely resume in-person hearings so that I have an opportunity to listen to skilled attorneys in the courtroom again . It doesn ’ t feel quite the same with virtual hearings .
Do you have a judicial / guiding philosophy and if so , what is it and how will it be instrumental in your new position ?
Simply to rule according to the law and facts as they are presented to me in the courtroom . I think it is important to take the bench on time and to issue timely written rulings . As Judges , it is our duty and responsibility to keep our dockets moving and to bring cases to a final resolution . It is more challenging during the pandemic and pending Judicial Emergency Order , but we must be creative and persistent , while maintaining safety protocols for all involved .
When someone addresses you as Judge , how long does it take you to realize they are referring to you ?
Not long since I have been a judge for several years , however , it did take some getting used to when I first became a judge .
FULTON COUNTY PROBATE : CHIEF JUDGE KENYA M . JOHNSON
What do you anticipate will be some of the hardest adjustments you will have to make in your new role as Judge ?
As the Probate Judge of Fulton County , I am responsible for deciding contested estate matters and more while also serving as a Department Head , managing a staff of over 40 employees with 6 divisions among three locations . Due to the volume and demand for firearms and marriage licenses which
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