Honorable Barbara A. Harris

BIOGRAPHY

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JUDGE BARBARA A. HARRIS
MUNICIPAL COURT OF ATLANTA

Barbara A. Harris was formerly appointed Chief Judge of Atlanta Municipal Court on June 18, 1992. She was the first woman to serve in such capacity. In assuming the responsibility of Chief Judge, she supervised the relocation of the court from the police headquarters to expanded facilities as well as budgetary and personnel matters. Judge Harris has served the City of Atlanta Municipal Court since April of 1982, presiding over preliminary hearings for felonies and misdemeanors and conducting non-jury trials of offenses and civil nuisance matters under the Atlanta City Code. Judge Harris’ experience includes five years of service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia in the Civil Division and a law clerkship under the tutelage of the late Supreme Court Justice Charles L. Weltner. She also served as an intern in the City Attorney’s Office. She has tried cases and argued appeals in both the state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Judge Harris is a graduate of Harvard University (A.B. cum laude, 1973) and Michigan Law School (J.D., 1976). She has enhanced her judicial studies at the National Judicial College. She is an active member of the Gate City Bar Association and co-founder of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorney’s (GABWA). She has served on various committees of the Georgia Supreme Court, the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, and the National Bar Association Judicial Council.