Pandora Palmer Superior Court Judge

Happy Independence Day! 🎇 As you celebrate our great nation today, let's remember those who fought for our freedom and honor their sacrifices. Here's hoping you have a fun and safe day with your loved ones.

Today, I am celebrating my father who has shaped me into the person I am. Even though you are not here, your legacy lives on! I will always be thankful for you and the love you have given me.

Happy Father's Day to all the father figures who have loved and cared for their children. I hope you feel extra love and celebrated today.

Please join me in welcoming my two summer law school interns. DJ Hillman graduated manga cm laude from Georgia State University’s Honors College earning a B.A in political science and a minor in philosophy. He is currently a rising 2L at the University of Georgia School of Law and serves as the secretary for BLSA, and for the Business law society and is also a member of the Sports and Entertainment Law society, SBA, and Privacy Security and Technology Law Society . Additionally, he will also serve as a teaching assistant in the spring semester for Torts. For the second half of the summer, DJ will be a summer associate at Smith Welch Webb and White. After graduation, DJ hopes to pursue a career in business litigation

Lane Hammond is a rising 2L at Mercer University School of Law. Lane graduated from Kennesaw State University earning a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies. She is currently a member of the International Legal Honor Society Phi Delta Phi, the Association of Women Law Students, and the First-Generation Law Student Association. She is also a member of the Mercer Advocacy Council Moot Court team. After graduation, Lane plans to pursue a career in criminal law.

Welcome aboard DJ & Lane!

I was honored this month to not only swear in my staff attorney, Bianca Carthern to the Georgia bar but also three other new attorneys! Aaliyah McGill, is a public defender with Lister, Holt & Dennis; Dr. Steph Iasiello is an assistant public defender with the Flint Judicial Circuit Office of the Public Defender; and Lance Harvey is Judge Stephen Knights’ staff attorney. Please join me in welcoming them to the Georgia bar. Congratulations to everyone!

Today and every day, we honor the brave and remember the fallen. As we gather with loved ones this Memorial Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

“A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” Amit Kalantri.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, and mother figures who give everything to their children, especially their love. I was fortunate to have an amazing mother who made many sacrifices for my family and loved us unconditionally. Without my mom’s support, I would not be where I am now. Although she passed away when I was a teenager, I will always love and miss her.

Congratulations to my law clerk, Bianca Carthern, who found out on Friday she passed the February 2024 Georgia bar exam! I am so proud of her and can’t wait to swear her in this week! She is also the first in her family to become a lawyer!

Grateful and blessed to have these wonderful people as part of the team in our courtroom. They keep everything organized and on track and make my job easier every day. I am grateful for all their hard work. Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day from us to you!

Along with my staff and other Henry County employees, I had the pleasure of taking an American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR AED course today. It was taught by Karla Richter who is an Emergency Management Specialist II for Henry County. She is a fabulous teacher! I am pleased to say that Ann, Donna, Bianca and I all passed, and we can now save a life if we need to! Thank you, Karla and Henry County, for offering this invaluable course!

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras ❤️ 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 #𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫-𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬. Zeus has been by my side for 13 years and Mia & Max for 7 months. Here's to all the sweet memories I've made with all 3 + the many more to come.

Last week I had the honor and pleasure of swearing in Michelle Theresa Chin Quee to the Georgia bar. She is also licensed as an attorney in New York and Connecticut. Please join me in congratulating her!

May your Easter baskets be filled with joy and lots of chocolate. Here's to a wonderful day with your loved ones. Happy Easter!

I was so inspired by the Clayton County Veterans Treatment Court’s 11th Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday. One of the graduates, Jasper Hardeman, Jr. was transferred from our court to Clayton County due to his residency status. When I first met him, I saw something in him that he didn’t see in himself, and I am so proud of what he has accomplished since being in this program. He was the first participant in the history of Clayton County Veterans Treatment Court to make it through the entire program with no violations or sanctions at all!

This program changed his life and helped him accomplish so many goals along the way including a new career and a baby. Please join me in congratulating these graduates on their outstanding accomplishments and service to our country. Thank you to Lt. Col. Dave Rogers for your inspiring speech to the graduates and to Judge Mack and the entire Clayton County Veterans Treatment Court for all you do. When you change your mindset, you can change the world!

I was honored to receive a special Glass Ceiling Award yesterday at the 9th Annual Women’s History Month Honors event alongside my fellow sister Henry County Judges Holly Veal, Danielle Roberts, and Chaundra Lewis. Thank you to Elton Alexander and the City of Stockbridge for this incredible honor.

Congratulations to all the honorees yesterday and to all the women trailblazers now and throughout history for their remarkable achievements and for helping pave the way for myself and others to achieve our dreams. Never give up on your dreams, no matter how painful and difficult your journey is!

Please join me in welcoming my spring law school intern, Hannah Frantz, who is a 2L at Mercer University School of Law. Hannah graduated from Florida State University earning a B.S. in International Affairs with minors in physics and mathematics. She is currently the social media chair for SBA, class representative for the National Security Law Society, a member of the Association for Women Law Students, and a Student Ambassador for Mercer Law. Beyond academia, Hannah hopes to pursue a career in the courtroom as a dedicated litigator post-law school, driven to bring clarity to complex legal matters.

Welcome aboard Hannah!

Congratulations to Henry County’s newest CASA volunteers. If you aren’t familiar with CASA, it stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASAs are community volunteers who have been screened and trained regarding dependency, child development, and juvenile court procedures. We finally have CASA in Henry County thanks to the tremendous efforts of Chief Juvenile Court Judge William P. Bartles, Juvenile Court Judge Jimmy Brown, and Chief Superior Court Judge Brian Amero. It is a plan that had taken four years to come to fruition and now CASA is in all 159 counties in Georgia. These volunteers who give so much to the community are changing children’s lives and their lives as well. I can’t wait to see all that they accomplish.

Thank you, CASA, for your service to our community!

Yesterday was my 30th anniversary of being sworn into the bar by the Honorable former Chief Judge William H. Ison in Clayton County Superior Court. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any pictures from that day although I remember it like it was yesterday. I did find a picture from when I graduated from Georgia State University College of Law on 2/5/94.

I had no idea where my journey would take me, but being sworn in as a lawyer changed my life. I was the first one in my family to graduate from college and then go on to become a lawyer. It has been a journey of ups and downs but a journey that I wouldn’t change for anything. It's that same journey that has led me to where I am today.

I learned many lessons along the way. One is to never give up on your dreams and when one door shuts, another opens. I am grateful for the lifelong friends I have made along the way. I enjoyed a day of celebration by attending the Henry County Bar lunch and the Lawyers Club Judicial Reception yesterday evening. Thank you to Craig Ogilvie and Coltyn White for speaking at the Henry County bar lunch about accountability courts and how they are changing lives and reducing recidivism.

Thanks to all who gave me great advice and helped me along the way. I am grateful I now get to pay it forward by mentoring my interns and law clerks.

I enjoyed attending the Cookout For Recovery event this past Saturday in support of Henry County’s Drug Court Program. We had wonderful food and fellowship.

Happy Valentine's Day! 💕 Wishing you and your loved ones a SWEET day full of love and laughter.

Henry County Veterans Treatment Court had a special treat today! We heard valuable insight from Retired Major Albert Greer, Jr. about lessons he learned from over 38 years of dedicated service in the U.S. Army. Major Greer earned the distinctive title of a "Mustang" for his journey from enlisted personnel to officer status, serving across the country and around the world. Major Greer has had a remarkable military career that includes receiving a lifetime achievement award from former President Barack Obama as well as Certificates of Appreciation from former President George Bush and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Major Greer also received numerous other awards throughout his career, one that is even more extraordinary when you hear about Major Greer’s extremely humble beginnings. One or two people can change your life as it did in Major Greer’s. Don’t let history control your destiny.

Thank you, Major Greer for your service to our country and inspiring speech to our veterans today!

My former ADA, Selwin Patterson’s last day was Friday as he took another position. Having him in my courtroom these last few years was an honor. He was always professional, prepared, and a pleasure to be around. He is going to be missed by everyone. Good luck to you Selwin in all your future endeavors!

I was so honored to marry an old friend today, Mary Peters, and her husband Patrick McNalley. Besides granting adoptions, this is one of the greatest privileges we have as a Superior Court Judge. Please join me in congratulating them both.



Mary and Patrick, I wish you both many years of happiness together.

Thank you, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for inspiring us. Your words will continue to live on.

Cheers to the new year! I am so excited to see all the opportunities that 2024 will bring. Here's to 365 days of new possibilities!

#2024

Happy Holidays! I hope your holiday season is full of joy and laughter with your loved ones.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎄 The Henry County Accountability Courts Christmas party on Friday night was so much fun! Donna McDonald, her husband, and our accountability court staff members knocked it out of the park with the decorations and food. We even had Santa present! 🎅

My Veterans Treatment Court staff was also treated to a lovely breakfast at the Veterans Support Group, Inc House and Service Center last Thursday morning hosted by Jim Dunn and his staff. If you are a veteran, they would love to have you stop by sometime for fellowship with other veterans. They are located at 32 Jonesboro Street in McDonough and are open most days from 10am to 3pm. You can reach them at 770-284-3306.

I am so grateful for our accountability courts. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! ✨

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a celebration for Jim Joyce who served as the 1st Mentor for Henry County Veterans Treatment Court. He did it so well that the first participant he mentored has also become a mentor for our court. Jim was only 17 when he was drafted into the Army. In total, he served 24 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 2 days with 2 tours in Vietnam and 3 tours in Europe. He also received the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

In January of 2010, he was hired by the late Tim Coley at Henry County Parks and Recreation to be the facilities coordinator and was given the assignment to create a Veterans Museum. Originally only consisting of 5 glass cases, 9 mannequins, and 15 uniforms donated from Nash Farm, the museum first opened its doors on Veterans Day, 11/11/10.

Thanks to Jim, it has grown into a fabulous display of military history. Jim has shown every visitor who comes by the museum what love of country, honor, and respect look like. Please join me in congratulating Jim for all his service to our country and to Henry County!

Happy Thanksgiving! Today, we reflect on all the things we are thankful for. Wishing you a restful day full of time with your family and friends.

To all the veterans who have faithfully served our country over the years, thank you! Today and every day, we honor you and the sacrifices you have made for our country.