MUNICIPAL COURT
OF ATLANTA
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
Case Manager: Cedric Stephens
Judicial Assistant: Shawndra Brown
