Cynthia J. Becker
Cynthia J. Becker was a judge for the Stone Mountain Circuit of Georgia.[1] She served as a judge for the court from 2001 until her resignation on March 1, 2015.[2][3]
Education
Becker received her B.A. from the University of Central Florida and her J.D. from Georgia State University.[4]
Career
Prior to joining the court, Becker worked as a trial lawyer and partner at Chambers, Mabry, McClelland & Brooks. She was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1987.[5]
Awards and associations
- 2006: Named Law Dragon (a list of leading lawyers in America)
- Mentor, Transition into Law Practice Program
- Past president, Decatur Rotary
- Former vice president, DeKalb Library Foundation
- Member, DeKalb Bar Association
- Member, DeKalb Lawyers’ Association
- Member, Atlanta Bar Association[5]
Elections
2012
- See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2012
Becker ran unopposed for re-election to the Stone Mountain Superior Court.[6] She was re-elected after receiving 99.6 percent of the vote in the election on July 31.[7]
Noteworthy events
Misconduct charges filed against judge (2015)
Despite her resignation from the court, the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) filed a formal complaint against Becker on March 23, 2015. In the school corruption case of former DeKalb Superintendent Dr. Crawford Lewis, the JQC contends that Becker was wrong to reject the plea deal between Lewis and the DeKalb County prosecutors and refuse to allow Lewis to withdraw his guilty plea. Lewis had testified against other defendants related to the matter, which Becker said was false testimony. By rejecting the deal, Becker sentenced Lewis to one year in jail. The commission says Lewis was held in jail for four days because Becker would not allow him to post bond.[8]
On August 20, a grand jury in Cobb County indicted Becker on charges that she lied to state employees who were investigating the matter.[9] Four days after her indictment, the charges against her were dropped when Park White, the prosecutor, decided to discontinue with the case after reviewing the evidence. Becker signed a consent order saying that she would not try to become a judge again and agreed to write a letter admitting to her mistakes. White said that with these actions, the former judge had taken adequate responsibility. "I believe that this resolution satisfies the ends of justice," he said.[10]
See also
External links
- DeKalb County Superior Court, "Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit"
- AJC.com, "State proceeds with ethics probe against DeKalb judge," March 23, 2015
Footnotes
- ↑ Administrative Office of the Courts, "Superior Court Directory," accessed May 4, 2014
- ↑ AJC.com, "Judge in DeKalb corruption case sends resignation letter," November 19, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Courts Journal, "Transitions," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ Martindale, “Cynthia J. Becker profile,” accessed March 24, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 DeKalb County, Georgia, "Judge Cynthia J. Becker," accessed February 19, 2013
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Preliminary List of Candidates on the July 31, 2012 General Non-Partisan Election Ballot," accessed May 29, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Primary/General Nonpartisan/Special Election," accessed August 1, 2012
- ↑ WSB TV, "Misconduct charges filed against judge at center of DeKalb school scandal," March 23, 2015
- ↑ AJC.com, "Former DeKalb County judge indicted," August 20, 2015
- ↑ AJC.com, "Charges against ex-DeKalb Judge Becker dropped," August 24, 2015
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia
State courts:
Georgia Supreme Court • Georgia Court of Appeals • Georgia Superior Courts • Georgia State Courts • Georgia Business Court • Georgia Tax Court • Georgia Juvenile Courts • Georgia Probate Courts • Georgia Magistrate Courts • Georgia Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Georgia • Georgia judicial elections • Judicial selection in Georgia
