Lewis Named Fulton Superior Court Administrator

For Immediate Release Aug. 27, 2010

ATLANTA – Clayton County Court Administrator Yolanda L. Lewis has been named Court Administrator for the Superior Court of Fulton County.

Lewis will replace veteran Fulton Superior Court Administrator Judy Cramer, who is leaving to begin a new career in the ministry.

Lewis has been Court Administrator in Clayton County since April 2008. Previously she was Assistant Director for Court Services at the Administrative Office of the Courts, a state agency that provides administrative assistance to Georgia Courts. Prior to joining the Administrative Office of the Courts in 2004 Lewis was a strategic planner at the Governor’s Justice Coordinating Council and worked as a program coordinator at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Mobile, Alabama.

Lewis received her Masters of Public Administration from the University of South Alabama in 2002 and a certificate in Judicial Administration and Management from the University of Michigan in August 2010.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is Georgia’s largest and busiest trial court. Its 20 elected judges and four fulltime Magistrate Judges receive in excess of 30,000 new cases annually.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is one of the top-performing urban courts in America. Our innovative programs, nationally recognized best practices and excellent judges and staff are making a difference in the lives of Fulton residents. We are committed to ensuring that all find justice find in our court. For additional information about our court, please visit our Web site at http://www.fultoncourt.org/

Court Security Projects Funded

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010 the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted to include major improvements to the security of Fulton Courts in a federal bond issue.
The 5-2 vote capped two weeks of negotiations between county and judicial leaders to reinstate $5.4 million in previously approved projects to improve security at the county's Juvenile Court and create a state-of-the-art security command center in the Fulton Court Complex.
The security changes were among improvements a Governor's Commission on Court Security recommended in 2006 following a shooting spree at the Fulton Court Complex in which a Superior Court Judge, court reporter and Deputy were killed by an escaping defendant in a rape case.

The $26 million bond project also includes lighting, building maintenance and roof replacement of a senior center. Other items approved Wednesday include a job training center near the Fulton County jail, a prisoner reentry center for prisoners coming out of Georgia prisons, an arts center roof replacement, and bus stop lighting and street security cameras. A health center would be renovated to increase services and the aviation community center at the county's airport in the Fulton Industrial Boulevard area.

A Last-minute Proposal to Strip Security Funding Postponed By Fulton Commission

ATLANTA -- Fulton County Commissioners on Wednesday stopped short of stripping some $5.4 million in security improvements recommended after a post-shooting review of the Fulton Courts Complex in 2005.

The commission received a recommendation Tuesday to redirect some of the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to building an aviation community center at Charlie Brown Airport in the Fulton Industrial Boulevard district.

A study lead by the U.S. Marshal's Office after a deadly March 11, 2005 shooting in the Fulton Court Complex in which a judge, court reporter and deputy were killed and a second deputy was gravely injured urged Fulton to bring its security umbrella up to current standards for large court complexes. The primary improvement recommended was a command center to monitor the nearly 1-million-square-foot facility that is visited by thousands daily.

The commission decided to postpone a vote on the change County Manager Zachary Williams said resulted from conversations with city officials who must authorize the county to spend the funds within the city limits.

County Attorney David Ware said commissioners are within their legal rights in changing the list of items prior to finalizing the bond approval.

The $26 million project list includes lighting, building maintenance and roof replacement of a senior center. Other items recommended Wednesday include a job training center near the Fulton County jail, a prisoner reentry center for prisoners coming out of Georgia prisons, an arts center roof replacement, and bus stop lighting and security cameras. A health center would be renovated to increase services and the aviation community center at the county's airport in the Fulton Industrial Boulevard area.

 Atlanta officials will consider the county's plan on Aug. 16. Commissioners will vote on projects Aug. 18 and a final list must be submitted to state officials by Aug. 31, Williams said.

New Issue of Jury Newsletter Available Online

August 2010 Jury Matters Newsletter

The current issue of Jury Matters includes profiles of two Fulton County Superior Court judges and the Clerk of Superior Court, plus tips on navigating family law issues and an update on how social media are adding to concerns about fair trials.

The quarterly newsletter also has information on staying comfortable and keeping up with business demands during jury service. And a regular feature, our Service feedback form helps the Court maintain top customer service for those who provide a vital public service.

Download a copy and learn more about the judicial branch and how jurors preserve our democratic system of government.

Court Publishes Services, Locations Directory

The Superior Court of Fulton County has published a Directory of Fulton Courts services, locations and directions. The Directory is available for download from the Court's website: www.fultoncourt.org/sca200807/
Users of the Directory are encouraged to submit updates and additions by email to pio@fultoncourt.org.