City of Atlanta Municipal Court

About the City of Atlanta Municipal Court

The City of Atlanta Municipal Court processes hundreds of thousands of cases each year, making it one of the busiest municipal courts in Georgia. Unlike state or federal courts, the municipal court focuses specifically on city‑level legal issues, including traffic violations that occur within Atlanta city limits, misdemeanor criminal charges such as simple assault or disorderly conduct, violations of city codes including noise and housing ordinances, and, importantly for many visitors and residents, DUI (Driving Under the Influence) cases. When you receive a citation or arrest for any of these offenses, you will most likely be scheduled to appear in this court.

As a city court, its mission is to deliver justice with efficiency and fairness, provide opportunities for defendants to resolve their cases responsibly, and support compliance with city laws and public safety standards. The court provides procedural information, clerks to assist with filings, and official calendars to help defendants and attorneys plan their appearances.

This court’s official online presence is hosted on a secure .gov domain, providing access to forms, calendars, case lookup tools, and updates directly from the court administration. When dealing with legal matters in Atlanta, always rely on these official sources for accurate information instead of third‑party or unverified sites.

Located at 150 Garnett St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 – The Municipal Court of Atlanta holds the distinction of being the largest municipal court in the State of Georgia. This esteemed court possesses the authority to preside over bench trials for a range of criminal cases, encompassing traffic violations, DUI (Driving Under the Influence) charges, ordinance infractions, and certain minor misdemeanors that occur within the city’s boundaries. Additionally, the court exercises jurisdiction over civil and quasi-criminal offenses, which include photo-enforced school bus violations, false alarms, parking violations, and code enforcement breaches. Their primary aim is to guarantee the fair and equitable resolution of all cases brought before us.

Judge Christopher T. Portis was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Kasim Reed in 2015. Judge Portis is the Chief Judge and presides over the Housing and Code Enforcement Division. He is a native Atlantan and earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Morehouse College and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Portis served part-time as a Fulton County Magistrate Judge. As a practicing attorney, Judge Portis represented clients in business litigation matters. He served as Special Counsel to the National Monuments Foundation, he was “of counsel” with the Parks Group, P.C., and also served as General Counsel to Communique-USA, Inc., a marketing firm in the Atlanta area.

Judge Portis continues his commitment of service to the community he loves. He is a former board member of the National Monuments Foundation; a member of the Kiwanis Club of Northside Atlanta; and a past chairman of the Pastoral Council at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church. Additionally, Judge Portis is a graduate of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the State Bar of Georgia Leadership Academy. He was recently awarded the Council of Municipal Court Judges’ Special Recognition Award for the creation of Atlanta’s Homeless Court.

‍CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Assistant: Kaymie Slade

KaySlade@Atlantaga.Gov

Case Manager: Andrew Reid

AReid@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judge Calvin S. Graves was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Shirley Franklin in 2005.  He currently presides over the Restore Atlanta Community Court Division. Judge Graves earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College and a Juris Doctor degree from Gonzaga University School of Law.

Prior to this appointment, Judge Graves served as Chief Judge, Judge and Pro Hac Judge in the City Court of Atlanta beginning in 1993. Judge Graves has an extensive career in civil and criminal law. He served as a partner in the civil law firm of Smolar, Brantley, and Barnes. He had the honor of serving as Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia, Associate Judge of Fulton County Juvenile Court, Child Advocate of Fulton County, Associate Public Defender of Fulton County, Assistant Solicitor General of Fulton County, Conflict Attorney for the U.S. Public Defender’s office, and Adjunct Professor in the paralegal program at Atlanta Technical College.

Judge Graves is a member of many professional and community organizations including:

serving as past president of the Gate City Bar Association; founding co-chair of the Gate City Bar Association Judicial Section; founding member of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, past member of the editorial board of the State Bar of Georgia Journal; member of the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association; the League of Women Voters; the Gate City Bar Association; and a graduate of the Leadership Atlanta class of 1993.

‍‍CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Assistant: Gloria Orozco

GOrozco@atlantaga.gov

Case Manager: Kymberly Lee

KDLee@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judicial Assistant: Tawni Fears

TSFears@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judge Gary E.  Jackson was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Shirley Franklin in 2005. He currently presides over general traffic matters. Judge Jackson is a native Atlantan, having graduated from Northside High School (now North Atlanta) in 1968. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1972 and graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1975, where he was a  Senior Editor of the Georgia Law Review.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Jackson began his career as an Assistant Legislative Counsel to the General Assembly of Georgia and opened his private law practice in 1977 concentrating in commercial collection matters. In 1984, Judge Jackson was appointed by Mayor Andrew Young as a hearing officer for the Atlanta Bureau of Taxi Cabs and Vehicles for Hire. He was later appointed by Fulton County State Court Chief Judge Charles Carnes as a Pro Hac Magistrate Judge. In 1988 Judge Jackson was appointed as a Pro Hac Judge to the City Court of Atlanta and in 1995 as a Pro Hac Judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta. Judge Jackson also served as a full-time judge in the City Court of Atlanta in 2000.

Judge Jackson is a past President of the Council of Municipal Court Judges of Georgia. He has been a featured lecturer for the Atlanta Bar Association, Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the National Business Institute. He continues to serve the Council as a 5th District Representative to its Executive Committee.  He recently received the Frost Ward Lifetime Achievement Award and the President’s Award from the Council of Municipal Court Judges.

‍‍CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Assistant: Sylvia Zazueta

szazueta@atlantaga.gov

Case Manager: Jarrett Arnold

jsarnold@atlantaga.gov

Judicial Assistant: Charlene Stewart

‍chstewart@atlantaga.gov

Judge Crystal A. Gaines was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Shirley Franklin in 2005.  She currently presides over general traffic matters. Judge Gaines earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1984 at Albany State College, Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University of Law in 1989, and a Master of Laws in Litigation from Atlanta Law School in 1994.

Judge Gaines has over thirty years of legal experience with expertise in criminal law and excellent knowledge of state and municipal court processes. She has experience in jury and non-jury trials, as well as legal administration. She has developed seminars for the Georgia Indigent Defense Council and was instrumental in developing and implementing the Drug Defense Resource Center (GDIC) and Fulton County Defenders, Inc. Judge Gaines was chosen to participate in the international monitoring program for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in South Africa. Judge Gaines was appointed by Mayor Bill Campbell to serve as a full-time judge in the City Court of Atlanta in 2001.

Judge Gaines is a member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA); Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; American Civil Liberties Union (Executive Board-1991); National Lawyers Guild (Committee on South Africa); Atlantans for Democracy in South Africa (Chairperson – 1992): America Friends Service Committee (Executive Committee – Chair 1996-1999); National Legal Aid and Defender Association; Fulton County Conflict Defender, Inc. (Board President): National Conference of Black Lawyers; National Council of Negro Women; and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

‍‍CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Assistant: Marye Ware

MWare@AtlantaGa.Gov

Case Manager: Cedric Stephens

cstephens@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judicial Assistant: Shawndra Brown

SPDBrown@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judge Christopher E. Ward was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Kasim Reed in 2012. He currently presides over complex criminal matters.  Judge Ward is a native Atlantan, having graduated from North Fulton High School in 1989. Judge Ward received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Morehouse College in 1993. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law and became licensed to practice law in 1998.

Judge Ward began his career as a Staff Attorney with the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office and joined the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office thereafter where he prosecuted felony cases in various departments of the office including trial, major narcotics, illegal firearms, and community prosecution units. In 2007, he joined the Georgia Power Company as a Senior Staff Attorney focusing on eminent domain litigation, environmental law, corporate security, and real estate law matters. In 2008, Judge Ward was appointed to serve as an Associate Judge at the Fulton County Juvenile Court where he served on a pro bono basis.

Judge Ward is an active member of the Gate City Bar Association serving previously as the Chair of the Judicial Section and on the Executive Board. He served as an External Advisory Group member for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative for Fulton County and was a member of the 2015 Class of Leadership Atlanta. He was recently awarded the Gate City Bar Association’s President’s Award of Excellence. Judge Ward is a member of Cascade United Methodist Church, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Kappa Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

‍CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Assistant: Tracy Armstead

TMArmstead@atlantaga.gov

Case Manager: Crystal Vianen

clvianen@atlantaga.gov

Judicial Assistant: JaVanna Holley

jholley@atlantaga.gov

Judge Terrinee L. Gundy was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Kasim Reed in 2013. She currently presides over the DUI (Driving Under the Influence) division.  Judge Gundy graduated magna cum laude from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Mathematics in 1996. She received a Juris Doctor degree from University of Georgia School of Law in 2000.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Gundy worked as a state and local tax associate for KPMG and Cox Communications, Inc. Subsequently, Judge Gundy entered private practice focusing on real estate, business transactions and negotiations, as well as public and government law. She served as an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School, teaching “Accounting for Lawyers” and “Law Firm Management.” In 2012, Judge Gundy was appointed to the Magistrate Court of Fulton County.

Integrally involved in the community, Judge Gundy served and partnered with the Andrew Young Foundation, the King Center, Woodruff Arts Center, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, National Black Arts Festival, 100 Black Men of Atlanta and Year Up Atlanta. Judge Gundy previously served as an executive board member of the Judicial Section of the National Bar Association and the Gate City Bar Association. She is a member of the National Association of Women Judges, Atlanta Bar Association, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), and the Council of Municipal Court Judges. Judge Gundy is a member of Elizabeth Baptist Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

‍‍CONTACT INFORMATION

‍Case Manager: Nicole Rozier

NRozier@Atlantaga.Gov

Judicial Assistant: Tawni Fears

TSFears@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judge JaDawnya C. Baker was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Kasim Reed in 2015. She currently presides over general traffic matters. Judge Baker is a proud graduate of Spelman College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and History graduating with honors in 2001. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2004.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Baker started a boutique practice, The Butler Law Group, LLC., where she served the greater Atlanta community as a solo practitioner. Later, she joined the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney as a Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney in the non-complex and complex trial, community prosecution, public integrity, and crimes against women & children divisions, respectively. Judge Baker was a guest legal analyst from 2012- 2015 on HLN for the following television shows: “On the Case,” “Evening Express,” and “HLN After Dark.”

Judge Baker is the current President of the Georgia Council of Municipal Court Judges. She previously served as the President of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) and is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, National Bar Association, and State Bar of Georgia’s Board of Governors. She is a member of the 2013 Outstanding Atlanta Class and LEAD Atlanta. Judge Baker is the founder of GABWA’s national award-winning Judicial & Public Office Academy and Trial Masters Boot Camp.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Case Manager: Jenessa Cephacile

JCephacile@atlantaga.gov

Judge Ardra L. Bey was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Kasim Reed.  She currently presides over general traffic matters. Judge Bey earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Bey practiced for over twelve years in various state and federal courts in Alabama and Georgia. Judge Bey began her practice in a boutique law firm in Alabama where she represented civil plaintiffs, the Alabama Teacher’s Union, city governments and criminal defendants. After relocating to Georgia, Judge Bey expanded her practice to include complex civil litigation and representation of defendants charged with serious felony offenses.

Judge Bey is the recipient of many awards and honors and has authored several legal articles, but she is particularly proud of her legal work on behalf of veterans to assist with understanding their rights. Judge Bey is a member of several professional and civic organizations including the board of the Buckhead Branch of the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System, the Buckhead Business Association, the Gate City Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

‍CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Assistant: Roshedia Clark

RLClark@AtlantaGa.Gov

Case Manager: Toni Hines

TRHines@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judicial Assistant: JaVanna Holley

JHolley@atlantaga.gov

Judge Teresa A. Mann was appointed to serve as judge in the Municipal Court of Atlanta by Mayor Kesha Lance Bottoms in 2021. She currently presides over general traffic and civil matters. Judge Mann is a native of West Virginia, relocating to Atlanta in 1993. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Associate in Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia in 1990. Judge Mann earned her Juris Doctor degree from West Virginia University College of Law, in Morgantown, West Virginia in 1993.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Mann practiced law in the metropolitan Atlanta legal community for over 27 years as both a solo practitioner and as a founding partner with the law firm Mann & Moran, PC. Judge Mann litigated civil and criminal cases on the local, state, and federal levels. Over the span of her career Judge Mann also served as a Solicitor and as Indigent Defense Counsel in multiple municipalities throughout Fulton County and her career has been distinguished by numerous appearances before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.

Most notably, Judge Mann holds the honor of having successfully argued a case of first impression before the Georgia Supreme Court that resulted in a published and precedent setting opinion. In 2019, Judge Mann was appointed by Chief Judge Fani T. Willis (now Fulton County District Attorney) to serve as Judge Pro Tem for the City of South Fulton Municipal Court. Judge Mann is actively involved in both civic and legal organizations and is a member of the Gate City Bar Association and the prestigious Charles Longstreet Welter Family Law Inn of Court.

‍CONTACT INFORMATION

Special Assistant: Hazel Boykin

HDBoykin@AtlantaGa.Gov

Case Manager: Brittany Mitchell

BEMitchell@AtlantaGa.Gov

Judicial Assistant: Robin Decker

RDecker@AtlantaGa.Gov