Cobb County has welcomed a new prominent figure in the legal arena, as Superior Court Judge Ann Harris assumes the role of President of the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia. This appointment, as announced by the Cobb County official news portal, places her in leadership until April 30, 2025. Joining her in this endeavor are President-Elect Judge Richard “Bert” Guy Jr. and Secretary-Treasurer Judge B. Chan Caudell.
A fixture on the bench since a 2014 election win, Harris ran unopposed in both re-elections and juggles a hefty caseload including criminal, domestic, and civil cases — and that's not all, she's also the overseer of Cobb County's Mental Health and Parental Accountability Courts, as reported by Cobb County. Harris' court work has garnered acclaim, with the Mental Health Court setting a state-wide standard and her parental program lauded for turning non-payers of child support into contributing parents thanks to education, substance abuse treatment, and job help.
Harris isn't just about Georgia's justice; she's been lending a hand internationally for the past seven years, aiding the Republic of Georgia's judiciary in bolstering their legal process and rule of law, tapping into her skills to enhance their court and jury trial management.
Her career before the gavel involved a 19-year stint putting away felons as an assistant district attorney in Cobb County and penning Georgia's inaugural human trafficking laws back in 2006. Harris also utilized her consultant chops at an international advisory firm before law called her name, credentials that include a law degree from Vanderbilt University and an AU bachelor’s.
Off the bench, she champions community service, having recently wrapped a two-year chairmanship with MUST Ministries, a non-profit dedicated to aiding those facing homelessness and poverty in tangible ways, detailed the Cobb County news release. On a personal note, Harris and her spouse Jim celebrate almost four decades together and share their Smyrna home with two rescued pups, Bert & Willie.
