About Judge Carter

Superior Court Judge Dr. Geronda V. Carter began her service on the superior court bench in the Clayton Judicial Circuit on January 1, 2007. Prior to her election to the superior court, she served as a designated superior court judge during her time as the presiding judge in the Clayton County Magistrate Court.

Judge Carter is currently the longest active, sitting judge in the Clayton Judicial Circuit. She served her rotation as chief judge from 2018-2022, and has more than 20 years of judicial experience. Judge Carter has the distinct privilege of presiding over the Parental Accountability Court for the circuit.

She also served a term on the Judicial Council of Georgia as the 6th District Administrative Law Judge. Notably, she had the pleasure to hear one case by designation on the Supreme Court of Georgia by order entered July 12, 2018.

Judge Carter originally came to Georgia to attend Spelman College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and participated in the Psychology Honors Program. She obtained her juris doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was selected to the Psychology, Public Policy & the Law Law Review Editorial Board and the Moot Court Board. She holds a Doctorate of Theology, summa cum laude, from Restoration Theological Seminary.

In addition to the annual training provided to judges in Georgia, Judge Carter has completed extensive judicial and continuing legal education studies, including courses at the National Judicial College at the University of Nevada; Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois; and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Prior to her judicial service, Judge Carter received licenses to practice law in Georgia, Florida, and the District of Columbia. Her professional legal experience includes serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, while working as an Assistant Regional Attorney with the Office of the General Counsel for the Social Security Administration (SSA); and serving as a judicial intern and law clerk on the local, state, and federal levels, including for the late Judge Lenwood A. Jackson with the City of Atlanta. She also worked as an associate with Oliver & Winkle, P.C.

During her time on the bench, Judge Carter has presided over many notable cases, some having received national attention. Her handling of these cases, and all matters over which she presides, consistently demonstrates her understanding of the need for a judge to apply the law without fear, favor, affection, or regard to any subjective variables or external pressures. Where warranted, her discretion reflects mercy, but not at the cost of ignoring the law or legislating from the bench. It saddens her, particularly in matters with self-represented litigants, when participants believe she has the discretion to do what the law does not permit.

Judge Carter has legal teaching experience dating back to 1997. She has served as an adjunct professor with John Marshall School of Law, Clayton State University, and Strayer University.

During her legal career as a lawyer, Judge Carter received many awards and honors for her outstanding service. As a judge, she continues to be honored for her community involvement and leadership. She was awarded a NAACP Outstanding Achievement Award, the National Black Herstory Task Force’s Lucy Terry Prince Award, and the Pink Pearl Mother & Daughter Honor. Judge Carter received a Distinguished Service Award for Public Service and Human Rights from the Atlanta Club of Frontiers International, Inc. and a Community Service Award from the Association of Christian Ministers of Clayton County. Most recently, she received the 2025 Legal Pillar Award from the Good Shepherd Clinic.

Judge Carter was a member of the Board of Directors with Arts Clayton, Inc. for nearly a decade. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of doGoodthings, Inc. Her memberships include the National Association of Women Judges, National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Gate City Bar Association, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, American Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, Florida Bar Association, D.C. Bar Association, and the Clayton County Bar Association.

Judge Carter enjoys leading Sunday Bible Study, baking, nature activities, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys sharing her love of gardening with the senior citizens in Clayton County.