State Court Judge Carla McMillian officially launched her campaign for election earlier this month.
“Being a judge is a tremendous and humbling responsibility,” Judge McMillian stated. “When I took the oath of office, I promised to deliver justice fairly and impartially, protect and serve the community, and uphold the Constitution. I work hard everyday to honor that promise. Now I’m asking the voters of Fayette County to allow me to continue the good work I’ve started.”
As part of her tough, no-nonsense approach to sentencing, Judge McMillian holds a unique drug court every month, requires a “Me and My Driving” course for high-risk drivers, and implements a Fayette-focused probation policy that has resulted in over 80,000 hours of community service since 2010 for such things as picking up trash in local parks, helping at the county’s two wastewater treatment plants, or sorting clothing at local non-profits.
These efforts, in Judge McMillian’s words, work “to ensure that Fayette County’s future is as bright as its past.”
Judge McMillian actively serves the community in other ways as well. She educates Fayette County’s next generation by speaking to government classes at every county high school, hosting students and other civic groups who visit the State Court, and serving as a judge for high school and law school mock trial competitions. She also sits on several boards, including the Board of Directors for the Fayette County Historical Society.
A native Georgian, Judge McMillian became the second state court judge in Fayette County history in 2010. Prior to becoming a judge, she was twice selected by her peers in the legal profession as a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star for her work as a trial attorney.
She and her family live in Tyrone. The family has attended Dogwood Church (formerly Braelinn Church) since 1998, where Judge McMillian has faithfully served as a small group leader for adult, women’s, and children’s small groups.
Judge McMillian attended law school as a Woodruff Scholar at the University of Georgia School of Law, where she graduated third in her class with highest honors and served as President of the Christian Legal Society. She also graduated with high honors from Duke University, earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in both History and Economics. In 2010, Judge McMillian received the “Distinguished Alumna” award from Westminster Schools of Augusta.
Fayette County State Court is a court of record, holding jury trials each month. Judge McMillian has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic cases, ordinance violations, and civil cases without regard to the amount in controversy.
Fayette County is unique in that it is one of the few counties of its size with only a single state court judge. In 2011, Judge McMillian presided over approximately 7,000 cases.
To learn more about Judge McMillian and the work of State Court, visit JudgeCarla.com.
