georgia@decaturlegal.com
Georgia Lord has over 30 years of experience as an attorney, including a track record of success in difficult, high stakes litigation involving disability rights and civil rights.
Georgia earned her law degree from Emory University College of Law, graduating “With Distinction” in the top 10% of her class. Other honors she received while at Emory include selection to and service on the Emory Law Journal, selection as a Semi-Finalist in Moot Court Competition, and selection for the honor society Order of the Coif. Georgia earned a Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude from The American University (AU) in Washington, D.C.
Georgia’s legal work has included both time in public service and time in private practice. From 2003 through 2014, she served as Staff Attorney to Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane of the Fulton Superior Court.
Before coming to Fulton Superior, Georgia was in private practice for thirteen years. She handled a wide variety of civil rights and employee rights claims in trial and appellate courts.
Georgia also served for three years as a Staff Attorney to the Eleventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals. She had the honor of serving as the Judicial Law Clerk to United States District Court Judge Horace T. Ward.
Georgia’s extensive litigation experience includes the following cases, among many others:
- Service as lead counsel in a successful systemic challenge to the adequacy of services provided mass transit customers with disabilities, securing broad relief. See Martin v. MARTA Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, 225 F. Supp. 2d 1362 (N.D. Ga. 2002).
- Service as primary counsel to five women in sexual harassment and sexual battery claims against the Sheriff of Hart County, Georgia, in litigation that not only yielded monetary damages for the plaintiffs but also resulted in the removal of the Sheriff from office.
- Service as counsel in a class action brought on behalf of inmates held by Sumter County, Georgia, in litigation that secured construction of a modern jail facility and other systemic relief.
- Service as one of two plaintiffs’ counsel in a six week trial of a race discrimination action brought on behalf of eighteen employees.
- Service as lead counsel in a successful disability access claim that secured wheelchair access to Superior Court proceedings in Coweta County, Georgia, and prompted the construction of a new, accessible courthouse.
Georgia holds the prestigious rank of “AV Preeminent” from the Martindale-Hubbell’ Peer Review Rating system. Martindale-Hubbell is the country’s oldest and most prestigious legal rating service. Their ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. A rating of “AV Preeminent” indicates that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
Georgia was inducted, at the rank of Barrister, into The Charles Longstreet Weltner Family Law American Inn of Court. This is a leading legal organization that promotes excellence in professionalism and ethics in the practice of family law. In 2002, she was awarded the “Volunteer Attorney of the Year Bill of Rights Award” by the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. In addition, she has often been selected by other attorneys to hold leadership positions in Bar organizations.
Georgia has also served upon several Boards of Directors for public service organizations, including the Boards of the Disability Law and Policy Center of Georgia, Inc.; disAbility Link; and the Executive Board of American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia.