Atlanta, May 2, 2018 –Judge Amanda Mercier of the Court of Appeals of Georgia has been designated to serve in place of Justice Carol W. Hunstein in the appeal of Withers et al. v. Schroeder (S17G1875). The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear arguments in the case on Monday, May 7 during its 10:00 A.M. session. In this case, a DeKalb County judge and court administrator are appealing a Georgia Court of Appeals ruling that partially reversed a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit against them. In addition to hearing arguments, Judge Mercier will participate in the Court’s decision.
Judge Mercier, 43, was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. Nathan Deal and took office on Jan. 4, 2016. Prior to her appointment to the appellate bench, Judge Mercier served as a Superior Court Judge in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, which includes the counties of Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens. She was appointed to that court in 2010 by then-Gov. Sonny Perdue and was reelected in 2012. Before becoming a Superior Court Judge, she was in private practice with the Law Office of David E. Ralston from 2001 until 2010. In addition to her full-time private practice, Judge Mercier served as a part-time solicitor and as a judge pro tem for the Ellijay City Court.
Judge Mercier graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia in 1998. She graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law in 2001. She completed a year-long externship in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York in Syracuse, New York. Judge Mercier is a member of the Syracuse Chapter of The Order of the Coif honorary scholastic society.
While a Superior Court Judge, Judge Mercier was actively involved in a number of accountability courts in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit. She was the presiding judge of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit Mental Health Court. As a member of the Council of Superior Court Judges, she served on the Legislation Committee, Accountability Courts Committee, Pattern Jury Committee, and Uniform Rules Committee. Judge Mercier was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to two successive terms on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.
Judge Mercier has been married to her husband, Joe Foster, since 2001 and they have a daughter. They reside in Blue Ridge, GA and are active members of their community.
(Designated judges are appointed when a justice must recuse himself or herself from a particular case. The Supreme Court of Georgia maintains a list of select judges from around the state and when the need arises, the Court appoints the next judge on the list.)