State Court - Chief Judge Eddie Barker

Chief Judge Eddie Barker
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Angela Bowen,

Judicial Assistant

Phone:  770-920-7413

abowen@douglascountyga.gov

 

Connie Hamilton,

Criminal Calendar/Case Management Clerk

Phone:  678-449-3928

chamilton@douglascountyga.gov 

 

Melissa Wood,

Civil Calendar/Case Management Clerk

Phone:  770-489-3908

mwood@douglascountyga.gov 

 

Anna Vaughan-Upshaw,

Staff Attorney

Phone:  770-489-5236

aupshaw@douglascountyga.gov 

 

Mary Miller,

Litigation Case Manager

Phone:  470-308-4441

mmiller@douglascountyga.gov

 

Odiri Okpodu, 

Court Reporter

Phone:  770-920-7231

ookpodu@douglascountyga.gov



If your appearance is required at the courthouse, please see the Superior Court Covid-19 Order (PDF) for Courthouse requirements and protocol.

Professional Background

Serving as the Chief Judge of the State Court since January, 2018, Judge Barker has presided on the State Court Bench since August, 2010.   Prior to that time he was a Senior Assistant District Attorney in Douglas County having served from 1993 to 2010.   He was Assistant District Attorney for the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit from July, 1992 through August, 1993.   From 1989 to 1992, Judge Barker was in private practice.

Judge Barker graduated from Georgia State University/College of Law in 1989.  He is a 1983 graduate of Mercer University and a 1979 graduate of Lithia Springs Comprehensive High School.

He established the Douglas County DUI/Drug Court in April, 2013, and has presided over that Court since that time.  Judge Barker is a member of the CACJ Funding Committee and DUI Court Judge’s Committee.

Personal Information

Judge Barker and his wife have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren and have resided in the Fairplay community for 35 years.

Scheduling Cases

Judge Barker controls the scheduling of the criminal and civil cases that are assigned to him. Criminal cases in which the defendant remains incarcerated without bond are given priority through a “fast track” process. 

To waive your appearance at your Criminal/Traffic/DUI Arraignment Hearing, please complete the appropriate Arraignment Waiver form (under downloadable documents) and file it with the State Court Clerk’s Office at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled hearing date.

Anyone with a pending criminal case and who is unable to afford to hire an attorney should contact the Douglas County Public Defender’s office.  Please see the Public Defender’s page on celebratedouglascounty.com for contact information and application requirements. 

If assistance is needed regarding a court date, please contact Judge Barker’s Case Management Clerk.

The new case management system is now live. Attorneys can request an ID and Password by e-mailing their request to clerksuperiorcourt@co.douglas.ga.us.

DUI/Drug Court Personnel

DUI.Drug Court Staff

DUI/Drug Court Personnel

Office:  770-920-7522


Joshua Bess,

DUI/Drug Court Coordinator

Phone:  770-920-7409

jbess@douglascountyga.gov

 

Lynne Kelley, (not pictured)

Administrative Assistant

Phone:  470-308-4433

lkelley@douglascountyga.gov 


For more information, please visit:

http://www.dcstart.org/


Nilsa Martin,

Case Manager

Phone:  770-920-7495

nmartin@douglascountyga.gov 


 

David Gonzalez,

Probation Officer

Phone:  678-449-3921

dgonzalez@douglascountyga.gov 




 

Judge Brian Fortner, Representative William Boddie and Chief Judge Eddie Barker

On February 6, 2020 we celebrated the hard work and success of our most recent 15 graduates from the Douglas County State Court DUI/Drug Court Program.  These individuals have worked harder than you can imagine for a minimum of 18 months straight.  Through their hard work, we have seen incredible stories of redemption.  Families have been reunited.  Careers have been advanced and degrees were earned.  Relationships were strengthened and HOPE WAS RESTORED.   A special thank you to Representative William Boddie from the 62nd District of Georgia. He was our guest speaker and he took part in recognizing the accomplishments of every single one of our graduates. At a time when budgets are being cut to these programs, it is good to have a local voice fighting for their future at the Georgia State Capitol. We cannot turn back to the failure of the past.

This was our biggest graduating class to date. They are a shining example of the fact that Accountability Courts work. They have embraced recovery and have committed themselves to being productive members of our community. We are so proud of them and their accomplishments. Our community is safer and stronger because of their hard work.

  

Chief Judge Eddie Barker, Representative Roger Bruce and Judge Brian Fortner 
 
On October 3, 2019 we celebrated the accomplishments of 10 local citizens who graduated from our Douglas County State Court DUI/Drug Court. They worked extremely hard to become sober and to start down their road of recovery. They shared stories of redemption and hope with family, friends, and citizens who were in attendance. Thank you to Representative Roger Bruce for being our featured speaker. He shared some very personal stories about how addiction impacts all of us. It is always inspiring to see so many people from so many walks of life coming together to celebrate the hard work of our graduates. Criminal justice reform has brought tremendous change to our community and to our state. We must stay the course.