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A message from Judge Rachelle Carnesale:
It has been my profound honor to serve on the Fulton County Superior Court since my appointment on June 17, 2019. Prior to my appointment to the bench, I had the privilege of serving the public in a diverse host of capacities: as a prosecutor with 18 years of experience prosecuting serious violent felonies, and specializing in child abuse and child homicides; as statewide director of several programs and agencies, including: the Division of Family and Children Services, the Office of the Child Advocate, the Georgia Child Death Investigation Program and the Child Fatality Review Program. These tenures, coupled with being the wife of a criminal defense attorney and mother of two boys, one with special needs, have forged my judicial outlook and afforded me a unique perspective from the bench.
In collaboration with the Fulton County School system as well as other educational entities, we love to host student interns and visitors in my courtroom throughout the year. This provides an opportunity for students to observe the criminal justice system and to interview professionals involved in the courtroom.
In addition to my regular docket of criminal and civil cases; I took over the My Journey Matters Program in 2021, when Justice Shawn LaGrua, our founder, left our bench for the Georgia Supreme Court. This program was developed as an alternative to long term incarceration for young offenders facing significant mandatory sentences. The focus of the program remains on education, training and reform; but, we have developed a new parenting program, as we realized a majority of our young participants have children of their own. We also created a supply room comprised of donations of diapers, formula, books, clothes and toys for the children of our participants. I believe that the desire to be successful parents is a powerful motivator for change in our participants. Our student interns enjoy organizing and tracking these donations, and student groups, such as Student Leadership Johns Creek, are largely to be credited with the donations!
My goals in the courtroom are simple:
- Ensure cases of all types are brought into court as expeditiously as possible.
- Ensure victims who wish to be heard have the opportunity for meaningful input during hearings and sentencing.
- Ensure that violent predators receive sentences that protect the public.
- Provide an opportunity for change and growth to offenders who are appropriate for alternative sentences.
- Ensure criminal defendants are afforded a fair and full process in court.
- Encourage utilization of the Fulton County Accountability Courts for non-violent offenders with substance abuse, mental health or developmental challenges.
The challenges in Fulton County are tremendous given our population, particularly after the tremendous impact COVID had on our ability to try cases in 2020 and 2021. It is my honor to continue to strive to serve the citizens of Fulton County to the best of my abilities.
My Journey Matters graduates with Judge Carnesale and MJM staff.
Donate
If you prefer, you may mail your donation to:
Friends of Judge Rachelle Carnesale
9925 Haynes Bridge Road, Suite 200-165,
Alpharetta, GA 30022.
Thank you for contributing to Friends of Judge Rachelle Carnesale. All campaign donations are welcome and appreciated.
The maximum donation allowed is $3,300 per person. Couples can each contribute the maximum, for a total of $6,600.
Per Georgia law, please include your occupation and your employer. Donations are not tax deductible.
High school students from Student Leadership Johns Creek observed Judge Carnesale holding court on November 15, 2019.