Local Attorney Tapped for Cherokee County Juvenile Court Judge Post

A local attorney has been appointed to serve as a judge for the Juvenile Court of Cherokee County starting in January.

Amanda G. Speights was appointed by the four judges of Cherokee County Superior Court, as required by Georgia law, the court announced.

Speights will assume office on Jan. 1, 2025. She fills the vacancy on the Juvenile Court bench created by the election of Judge Jennifer Davis to serve as Superior Court judge.

“The Superior Court bench takes very seriously the appointment of someone to serve as Juvenile Court judge. We are confident that Amanda Speights has the legal knowledge, high ethical standards, and commitment to the community that is necessary to be an outstanding judge,” Chief Judge Ellen McElyea said in a statement.

A Cherokee County native, Speights has practiced law in Cherokee since being admitted to the Georgia bar in 2009. She has been a partner at Speights Law in Canton for almost 10 years. Speights has represented clients in family and juvenile law, as well as criminal and general civil litigation, and has had extensive appellate experience. She has served as defense attorney for the Cherokee County Juvenile Drug Treatment Court and has represented children’s best interests as guardian ad litem in many cases.

Speights has been a member of the Service League of Cherokee County since 2017. In addition to devoting numerous hours of volunteer service to the Service League, she has held several leadership positions in the organization, including serving as President in 2022-2023.

She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Cherokee County Law Library.

Speights is a graduate of Kennesaw State University. She attended Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, where she was editor-in-chief of the John Marshall Law Journal and graduated as valedictorian in 2009. Speights and her husband live in Canton.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve families and children in

my community as a judge of the Juvenile Court of Cherokee County. I am dedicated to

continuing the legacy of Judge Davis and ensuring justice and fairness for every child and family who appears before me,” Speights said.