feated Paideia in the Region Finals and finished third in the State.
Darius then went on to UGA where he was a strong student. During one summer in college Darius interned with Senator Max Cleland and learned so much about the way our government works. Darius also was able to observe the grace and dignity of Max Cleland.
When Darius was in town during his college days we often got together to catch up. One memorable August day we played one-on-one basketball under a broiling sun. My family is well aware that I was an outstanding athlete in my youth. Darius surprisingly is actually a pretty good athlete himself. It was so hot that day I started taking water breaks between dribbles. Darius is about 6 ' 1 ", 165 lbs. I am … well, I am what I am. Darius had a pretty good crossover move that worked until I started tripping him. I had one move and one move only-the back down move. Darius will tell you he took it easy on me. I will tell you we were playing as hard as we could with no quarter given and none asked. But I digress.... Those who know and love Darius were thrilled when Darius announced he was applying to law school at UGA. Several of us were delighted to write letters of recommendation.
During law school at the University of Georgia, Darius was a member of three championship Moot Court teams, including Georgia ' s Intrastate Moot Court Championship Team. Bulldog Fans will be pleased to know that during his third year, Darius led UGA ' s Moot Court Team to victory over Florida during the annual Georgia / Florida football weekend in Jacksonville, Florida.
May 18, 2002, the day Darius graduated from law school, is a day I will always cherish. On the drive up and back to Athens I reflected on how much Darius had accomplished and the fact that he was achieving such an important milestone on the way to his goal of becoming a lawyer. Darius and his family beamed that day and for good reason as well they should. Another former Intern Cynthia Saintil Adams graduated that day from UGA Law School. I am delighted that Cynthia is on the short list for an appointment to be on the Douglas County Superior Court.
Darius and I practiced law together for the first six months of his career before he became a prosecutor in
the Dekalb County DA ' s office where he served with distinction under J. Tom Morgan, Jeff Brickman, Gwen Keyes Fleming, Javonne Hicks White and most recently Robert James.
Despite the demands of his profession and having young children Darius has given back so much to his high school, community and profession by, for example, serving as a Mock Trial Coach and Mentor in the Summer Law Internship Program which gave him his start.
In the summer of 2015 my oldest daughter Maryellen interned with Darius as part of the Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program. I mentored Darius when he was in high school and Darius is now a mentor to my daughter as well as all of my children. Kelly and I are so very grateful for that.
It is fitting Darius is being sworn in only a few days before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Dr. King was a hero of mine and delivered a quote that I try to live by:“ It is always the right time to do the right thing.” Darius, the job you are taking
L-R: Wade Malone, Darius Pattillo and Comer Yates at a previous Summer Law Internship Program event. is a hard job that will involve many tough decisions. You will have matters where one group will say“ Lock him up and throw away the key!” while another faction will say“ Let him go!” When you make those decisions be confident in your journey and your judgment.
Again Darius, congratulations. We are so proud of you. ▪
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association THE ATLANTA LAWYER 21