Changes to the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Membership

Changes to the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Membership

Atlanta, GA — On February 8, 2023, the Supreme Court of Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution (GCDR/Commission) welcomed two new appointees: Judge Pandora E. Palmer, Henry County Superior Court; and Judge Vic Reynolds, Cobb County Superior Court. During the February 8 GCDR meeting, Chief Judge M. Cindy Morris, Commission Chair, administered the oaths and welcomed the new members to the Commission.

Judge Pandora E. Palmer completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia and attended law school at Georgia State University. Before taking the bench, she enjoyed an extensive legal career as a domestic relations attorney and served in various roles, including those for domestic violence (IPV/A) organizations, including: Board of Directors for the Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence; as Former President and former member of Board of Directors for Clayton County Association on Domestic Violence; and Board of Directors (a past president) for Haven House. During her time in Hawaii, she completed basic training for Family Court Mediation, before returning to Georgia. Notably, Judge Palmer was the first woman to serve on the Henry County State Court bench.

Judge Vic Reynolds is a proud alumnus of Georgia Southern University and attended law school at Georgia State University. His extensive criminal justice career included such roles as: Floyd County Police Officer and Assistant DA, then District Attorney for the Cobb Judicial Circuit before rising to the rank of Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He has also served previously as Chief Magistrate of Cobb County and as a Chairman of the Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force on Domestic Violence. He may also long be remembered as the host of an access cable television show, “Gavel to Gavel”.

The appointments of Judges Palmer and Reynolds fill vacancies of outgoing members Judge Jane C. Barwick, Fulton County Superior Court, and Judge C. Andrew Fuller, Superior Court of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, who retired from the bench in December 2022.

During her 6-year tenure with GCDR, Judge Jane C. Barwick served as the Chair of the Commission from 2019 to 2021 and as Chair of the Committee on Ethics from 2018 to 2019. As a native Atlantan, she has run the Peachtree Road Race a whopping 46 times in a row.

At the time of his retirement, Judge C. Andrew Fuller was among the longest-sitting GCDR members; he began his term in 2009, and served as Chair of the Committee on Budget and Personnel for eight (8) of his total 13 years of service. The GCDR wishes Judge Fuller a robust and relaxing retirement, which has been well earned.

The Supreme Court established the Commission on Dispute Resolution to administer a statewide comprehensive Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program; oversee the development and ensure the quality of all court programs; develop guidelines and approve court programs; develop criteria for training and qualifications of neutrals; and establish standards of conduct for neutrals. The 19-member Commission is comprised of representatives of all appellate and trial courts, a representative from both the General Assembly and the State Bar of Georgia, approved trainers and registered neutrals, a court ADR program director, and other professionals with an interest in dispute resolution.

For more information on the Commission, please click here.

For more information:
Bruce Shaw
bruce.shaw@georgiacourts.gov
470-585-2781