Savannah, GA — Georgia’s Council of State Court Judges have awarded Judge Ana Maria Martinez of the State Court of DeKalb County its highest honor, the Ogden Doremus – Kent Lawrence Award. The award is presented annually at the Council’s Fall Meeting to a state court judge who has achieved the highest level of respect from his or her peers as a judge recognized for their judicial ethics, professionalism on the bench, and involvement in their communities.
Judge Martinez became the first Latina for a Georgia trial court when Governor Kemp appointed her in 2022. She retained her seat on the bench in the May 2024 election. Today, she operates the only fully bilingual English/Spanish DUI Court in Georgia. Judge Martinez co-founded the Georgia Latino Law Foundation, an organization that supports the rising Latino legal community through its student Law Day events, Leadership Academy and Mentoring Program, and Judicial Internship Program.
Judge Ralph Bailey, Jr., Henry County State Court
who presented the award on October 16;
Judge Ana Maria Martinez; and Council President
Judge Jeff Hanson, Bibb County State Court.
Judge Martinez became the first Latina for a Georgia trial court when Governor Kemp appointed her in 2022. She retained her seat on the bench in the May 2024 election. Today, she operates the only fully bilingual English/Spanish DUI Court in Georgia. Judge Martinez co-founded the Georgia Latino Law Foundation, an organization that supports the rising Latino legal community through its student Law Day events, Leadership Academy and Mentoring Program, and Judicial Internship Program.
Judge Ralph Bailey, Jr., Henry County State Court
who presented the award on October 16;
Judge Ana Maria Martinez; and Council President
Judge Jeff Hanson, Bibb County State Court.
The Ogden Doremus-Kent Lawrence Award is named after two judges who demonstrated the high standards that it represents. Judge Ogden Doremus was an engaged environmentalist who created organizations to save the estuaries of coastal Georgia. Judge Kent Lawrence is the “Father of DUI Accountability Courts” in Georgia.