Author: Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings

12 Aug Meet Our Judges – Carol Walker-Russell

The Honorable Carol Walker-Russell

Appointed to the Court:

2000

Counties Covered:

Bartow, DeKalb, Gordon, Jasper, Newton, Rockdale and Walton

Education:

Bachelor of Science: Criminal Justice – Georgia State University
Juris Doctorate – Georgia State University College of Law

Hometown:

Atlanta

A School Field Trip Sparks a Judicial Dream

Judge Walker-Russell’s dream of becoming a judge began during a third-grade field trip to a courthouse in downtown Atlanta. She vividly remembers walking into the courtroom and being in awe of the beautiful wooden benches and the Judge’s towering bench. “It was love at first sight,” Judge Walker-Russell said.

But it was more than just the impressiveness of the courtroom that inspired her: “When the Judge entered the courtroom and explained that his role was to help people resolve problems – something came alive within me.” According to Judge Walker-Russell, from that very moment, she knew that being a Judge was her true calling. She added, “The next day, my teacher asked the class what we wanted to be when we grew up. I immediately raised my hand and answered, ‘a Judge!’ From that day forward, I never doubted or wavered in my calling of being a Judge.”

First Job Provides Lifelong Lessons

Judge Walker-Russell’s journey to becoming a judge began a few years later when she was just 13 years old. She landed her first job helping her local community as an administrative assistant at the Atlanta Housing Authority’s office. Judge Walker-Russell attributes that experience with helping her prepare for her role as a Judge.

According to Judge Walker-Russell, “Working for the Atlanta Housing Authority was a wonderful experience and taught me how to respect people in positions of authority. I learned the importance of punctuality and reliability in the work force and to follow directions and complete assignments. I also learned the importance of positively interacting with co-workers and maintaining a pleasant attitude and disposition. Further, I learned the importance of dressing appropriately for work. All of these lessons have followed me throughout my career and have served me well as a Judge.”

Wealth of Legal & Judicial Experience

Fast forward to today, Judge Carol Walker-Russell brings an extensive and impressive legal and judicial career to the Georgia Administrative Court. Prior to joining the Court, Judge Walker-Russell served as a law clerk to a DeKalb State Court Judge; Assistant Solicitor General and Chief Assistant Solicitor General; Adjunct Professor of Litigation at Georgia State University, College of Law; State Certified Mediator; and the principal of Russell Law Office, P.C.

Judge Walker-Russell’s successful legal career led her to become a DeKalb County Recorder’s Court Judge and a DeKalb County Magistrate Judge with the designations of Superior Court and State Court Judge. Judge Walker-Russell has served as an Administrative Law Judge for Georgia’s Administrative Court for almost 20 years and has presided over thousands of disputes between members of the public and State agencies.

According to Judge Walker-Russell, “The position of Administrative Law Judge is different, challenging, and certainly rewarding. I have never been bored due to constantly researching and writing decisions on the various laws and policies that are applicable in our cases.”

Judge Walker-Russell’s circuit covers multiple counties including Bartow, DeKalb, Gordon, Jasper, Newton, Rockdale, and Walton. She enjoys engaging with everyone involved in the hearing process – courthouse staff, security personnel, and everyone who appears before her. Judge Walker-Russell said, “Everyone is so kind, professional, respectful, and welcoming to me. It is an honor to serve the citizens of Georgia.”

Committed to Upholding the Honor & Dignity of the Court

Judge Walker-Russell believes Judges should serve their communities by dedicating themselves to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal system. She believes in expeditiously scheduling proceedings, issuing orders and rulings, and refraining from engaging in any conduct that would adversely impact the honor and dignity of the court. Judge Walker-Russell ensures she is on time for all of her calendars and promptly issues written decisions.

Advice on How to Prepare for a Hearing

For participants appearing before her, Judge Walker-Russell encourages everyone to read the laws or policies applicable to their cases, gather and bring all the evidence they need to present their case, subpoena witnesses, and be on time. (Remember, Judge Walker-Russell is committed to starting her hearings on time.)

She also recommends, “Write out your thoughts in advance so that you can effectively state your arguments clearly before the court.” Her advice stems from her mission of ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to present their side of the story.

Judge Walker-Russell also advises that lawyers who appear before her be prepared and “appreciate my expectations of excellence from them. Great lawyers know the facts and applicable laws or policies of their case and are readily prepared to articulate them.”

Devoted to Her Local Community

Judge Walker-Russell’s dedication extends well beyond the courtroom, as she is deeply involved in her local community with multiple community organizations. Growing up in the Atlanta Bowen Homes Housing Projects shaped Judge Walker-Russell’s commitment to giving back. She said, “I fully understand the need, obligation, and duty to reach back and help those less fortunate and remain actively involved in various community service programs.”

Judge Walker-Russell regularly participates in career-day activities and “Journey to Judge Programs” to help encourage and educate elementary school, middle school, high school, and college-aged students about the road to judgeship. Further, she has served on the boards for Our House, Inc.; the State Bar of Georgia; Gate City Bar Association; the Georgia Association of Administrative Law Judges; the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys; and the DeKalb Lawyers Association.

And when Judge Walker-Russell finally takes a moment to slow down, she enjoys spending time with her family, singing, and writing poetry, short stories, and plays.

12 Aug Meet Our Judges – Shakara Barnes

The Honorable Shakara Barnes

Appointed to the Court:

2018

Counties Covered:

Northern Circuit: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, and Walker
Southern Circuit: Appling, Bacon, Bleckley, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Dodge, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Pierce, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Ware, Wheeler, and Wilkinson

Education:

Bachelor of Arts: Political Science – Florida A&M University
Bachelor of Arts: French – Florida A&M University
Juris Doctorate – Howard University School of Law

Hometown:

Durham, North Carolina

OSAH’s Newest Judge

Judge Barnes is the Georgia Administrative Court’s newest Judge and brings a wealth of litigation and regulatory experience to the bench. According to Judge Barnes, her role as a judge “is more fulfilling than expected and extremely rewarding. Being a judge is never boring or monotonous. We handle so many case types that there is always something new and interesting to consider.”

A Lifelong Calling

Since an early age, Judge Barnes states she was drawn to the legal profession. According to Judge Barnes, “Early in life, I recognized the impact that a good attorney can make on a person, a family, a business, a city, and even a society. The law plays a central role in so many key aspects of our lives – it affects housing, employment, marriage, government, business, taxes, technology, healthcare, education and more. I felt that I could make a difference by practicing law.”

Extensive Litigation & Regulatory Experience

Prior to joining OSAH in 2018, Judge Barnes first worked with Troutman Sanders’ litigation team and then as legal counsel for Deutsche Bank.

At Troutman Sanders, Judge Barnes was a member of its Business Litigation and Securities Litigation practice groups. According to Judge Barnes, “I was able to cut my teeth and hone my craft with top professionals in the industry.” Judge Barnes’ cases involved allegations of fraud and misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and a variety of business torts. She also managed cases involving product liability and complex matters involving employment, real estate, contracts, corporate espionage, and misappropriation.

In 2009, Judge Barnes was selected as the Troutman Sanders Fellow for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. In this role, Judge Barnes successfully handled a high volume of matters, including unemployment benefits appeals, family law disputes, commercial disputes, bankruptcy, dispossessory actions and housing grievances. She also served on Troutman Sanders’ Pro Bono Committee, Recruiting Committee, and Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Following her tenure at Troutman Sanders, Judge Barnes worked at Deutsche Bank as Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement Counsel. There Judge Barnes partnered with outside counsel, developed strategies, and reviewed pleadings concerning the bank and its legal entities. In addition, Judge Barnes served as Deutsche Bank’s Vice-Chair of the global Association of Corporate Counsel’s (ACC) New to In-House Committee and on its Steering Committee.

Covering Georgia’s Diverse Geography

Judge Barnes’s judicial circuit covers the southernmost point of Georgia to the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She presides over hearings in 24 of Georgia’s 159 counties. According to Judge Barnes, “Even though my circuit is geographically diverse, the litigants I encounter throughout the state share many commonalities. I enjoy meeting so many different people and learning about their lives. I am truly fortunate to serve so many people.”

Commitment to Fair Application of the Law

Judge Barnes presides over hundreds of cases every year and believes no two cases are alike. As a result, she takes copious notes during each hearing and conducts extensive research to fully understand the nuanced and novel legal questions that arise in each case. Judge Barnes then pieces together the facts, applies those facts to the law, and reaches a decision. However, before she issues her decision, Judge Barnes always steps away from the decision and returns to it later with fresh eyes to ensure she has considered all the legal questions at hand and fairly applied the law to that particular dispute.

Further, Judge Barnes believes “evidence” and “empathy” are the keys to being a good judge. She explains, “It’s vital that a judge learn the rules and apply them fairly. When I’m presiding over a hearing, I like being able to assure the litigants in my courtroom that I will decide each case impartially, on its merits, and with empathy.”

Advice on How to Prepare for a Hearing

Judge Barnes encourages all participants to visit the Frequently Asked Questions section and review the sample documents on OSAH’s web site before their hearing. She believes the FAQs and sample documents provide a wealth of information that can help participants prepare for their hearings-especially if they do not have an attorney to represent them. Judge Barnes also advises, “Don’t be afraid or intimated. We are independent judges and our primary function is to conduct a fair hearing and reach the correct decision under the law.”

Further, Judge Barnes encourages all attorneys to be prepared and to act with integrity. She said, “It’s important that attorneys understand the law and do not exaggerate the facts to make their case seem stronger than it actually is. Further, attorneys need to conduct themselves ethically at all times.”

Community Minded

Judge Barnes is passionate about serving her local community. She volunteers with her church, as well as the Georgia Association of Black Women and the Gate City Bar Association. She also supports organizations such as the East Atlanta Kids Club. Judge Barnes has also served on a variety of professional and community organizations such as the State Bar of Georgia’s Diversity Program and the Deutsche Bank Multicultural Partnership.

Beyond the Bench

When Judge Barnes is not on the bench, she enjoys volunteering in the community, traveling, bowling, listening to live music, spending time with family and friends, and occasionally binge-watching Netflix. Judge Barnes also enjoys listening to podcasts. She said, “They are informative and entertaining and perfect for a multi-tasker like me, as I can listen to a podcast while doing something else!”

05 Mar Recognizing OSAH’s Staff Attorneys By Judge Michael Malihi

Every year, OSAH is responsible for tens of thousands of cases involving dozens of state agencies and hundreds of distinct issues. A single week in the life of an OSAH judge may involve interpreting a new environmental regulation, adjudicating a licensing case involving an issue of first impression, and holding calendars involving hundreds of litigants at courthouses hundreds of miles apart.

The work judges are able to accomplish is nothing short of astounding. But, thankfully, they do not have to do it alone. Since 2007, our judges have been able to rely on the invaluable assistance of staff attorneys. The decision to add staff attorneys to our organization is part of the reason OSAH is currently the most effective and efficient administrative court in the nation. Currently, OSAH has six staff attorneys – Lisa Boggs, Dominic Capraro, Megan Long, Bryan Present, Jessica Wang, and Jennifer Williams.

Judges trust their staff attorneys to ensure that every decision they issue is well-written, with thorough analyses and accurate citations.  In many instances, a staff attorney is primarily responsible for writing the decision in a case, with oversight from the judge. “I’m usually very involved in the process of drafting a decision,” says Dominic Capraro, who has been an OSAH staff attorney since 2013, “The judges are also very active in providing feedback on what I’ve written and supplying language that they would like to be in the decision.”

But staff attorneys do much more than write decisions and orders. To give just a few examples, Lisa Boggs and Dominic Capraro, who also serve as OSAH’s General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, respectively, were instrumental in promulgating amendments to OSAH’s rules this year. Jennifer Williams, who has been an OSAH staff attorney since 2014, took the lead in updating OSAH’s employee handbook. Jessica Wang and Megan Long compile noteworthy OSAH decisions and publish them in the Administrative Law Report, OSAH’s online reporter. Bryan Present, OSAH’s newest staff attorney, tracks bills that affect administrative law during the legislative session.

The staff attorneys are integral to OSAH’s operations both in and out of court, and we are very grateful for their contributions to our organization. Each of them contributes his or her unique life, educational, and work experiences to our organization and I encourage you to read their bios, which appear below.

Lisa Boggs

Lisa Boggs joined OSAH in 2015 as a Staff Attorney.  Chief Judge Malihi named Lisa as OSAH’s first General Counsel in May 2017, and she later became Chief of Staff in January 2018.  Before joining OSAH, Lisa served as a Staff Attorney with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Lisa grew up in Georgia and graduated from Berry College, summa cum laude, with a degree in journalism.  After working for newspapers in Georgia and South Carolina for five years, she returned to Atlanta to attend Georgia State University College of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude and was an Associate Research Editor for the Law Review.

Dominic Capraro

Dominic Capraro was raised in Marietta, Georgia, where he graduated from Lassiter High School. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Political Science from Kennesaw State University and later graduated cum laude from Georgia State University College of Law, where he was an Associate Research Editor for the Law Review.  Dominic has been with the Office of State Administrative Hearings since 2013, and was appointed Deputy General Counsel in 2018.  He is also the staff attorney for the Honorable Judge Barbara Brown.

Megan Long

Megan Long graduated magna cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law, where she served as Lead Articles Editor for the Richmond Public Interest Law Review. At graduation, she received the ABA-Bloomberg BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law. Megan completed her undergraduate degree at Swarthmore College, where she majored in Sociology & Anthropology with a minor in Art History. At the Office of State Administrative Hearings, she serves as the staff attorney for the Honorable Judges Baxter, Beaudrot, and Howells. She is thrilled to be back in her hometown of Atlanta, serving the people of Georgia.

Bryan Present

Bryan Present was raised in Plantation, Florida. He attended Florida State University, where he earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and International Affairs. After completing his undergraduate education, Bryan attended Florida State University College of Law. Following his graduation from law school, Bryan remained in Tallahassee and worked for the Florida Senate for 4 years as an attorney for the Bill Drafting Office and the Committee on Community Affairs. Bryan joined the Office of State Administrative Hearings in 2018 and serves as the staff attorney for the Honorable Judges Fry, Kennedy, and Teate.

Jessica Wang

Jessica Wang graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was an Executive Editor of the Michigan Law Review. After law school, Jessica was a litigator for five years at Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan (now Eversheds Sutherland), then clerked for the Honorable Alan J. Baverman, United States Magistrate Judge. At the Office of State Administrative Hearings, Jessica is the staff attorney for Chief Judge Malihi, Judge Schroer, and Judge Walker.

Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended Oklahoma State University, where she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and International Business. After completing her undergraduate education, Jennifer moved to Athens, Georgia to attend the University of Georgia School of Law, where she graduated cum laude and served as a notes editor for the Georgia Journal of Intellectual Property Law. At the Office of State Administrative Hearings, Jennifer is the staff attorney for the Honorable Judges Barnes and Woodard.  She also serves as the staff attorney for the Honorable Judge Larry O’Neal, Chief Judge of the Georgia Tax Tribunal.