Fulton Superior Court Judge Westmoreland Moves to Business Court

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melvin K. Westmoreland has moved from the Fulton Justice Tower to the historic Lewis Slaton Fulton County Courthouse.

Westmoreland, a Superior Court Judge in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit since 1988, said he moved to Courtroom 9G in the 136 Pryor St. Courthouse for two reasons.

He recently became the only elected Superior Court Judge serving in the Fulton Business Court and now exclusively hears civil cases. Judge Westmoreland’s new chambers (Room C927) put him on the same floor with Business Court Senior Judges Alice Bonner and Elizabeth Long and Business Court manager Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez.

The move also makes room in the Fulton Justice Tower for newly appointed Superior Court Judge Shawn LaGrua. When LaGrua is sworn in as the circuit's 20th judge she may hear a mixed docket of criminal and civil cases. Criminal cases are restricted to the Tower which has secure holding cells and elevators used to transfer prisoners to and from the Fulton County Jail.

"With only civil cases I don't need holding cells and it helps to be close to the other business court operations," Judge Westmoreland said.

Judge Westmoreland's chambers telephone is 404-612-2570.

Fulton’s Business Court nationally recognized

ATLANTA – The Fulton County Business Court has been named Best in Category of innovative court programs for 2009 by the National Association of Counties.

The Fulton Business Court, created by the Superior Court of Fulton County, hears cases involving damages in excess of $1 million, with multiple litigants, large amounts of documentary evidence, complex commercial or business claims and extensive discovery.

Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said the award indicates the caliber of legal services available to local businesses.

“This recognition speaks well for the entire team at the Fulton County Superior Court, and their dedicated service to Fulton County businesses and residents,” Eaves said. “Innovation in justice is a high priority for Fulton County Government, and we are pleased to see that we are among the nation’s best.”

Since 2006 the Fulton Business Court has provided cost-effective resolution for complex commercial and business cases. In addition to retaining legal business in Atlanta the Business Court has begun to grow a robust body of business law in Georgia.

Community partnerships were critical to forming and sustaining the specialty court, said Superior Court Chief Judge Doris L. Downs.

“With the support of the Atlanta business community and funding from the Fulton County Commission we have been able to build a Business Court that is making Atlanta a Mecca for commercial litigation,” said Judge Downs. “The State Bar also is to be commended for having the vision to promote the creation of this Court by the Supreme Court of Georgia.”

The National Association of Counties Achievement Award Program recognizes programs that improve the management of services by county government. This year’s winners represent 30 states and 123 counties.

Since the program’s inception in 1970, the Achievement Award Program has honored hundreds of county government initiatives that have improved service delivery, achieved greater cost efficiency, provided finer customer service, and helped to develop a better-trained work force.
Fulton’s Business Court is one of 17 innovative programs cited in Georgia and one of only two cited as Best in Category in the national NACo Achievement Awards.

For more information on the NACo Achievement Awards, visit www.naco.org.