ATLANTA (June10, 2014) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) partner Marcia M. Ernst was recently sworn in as a Judge of the Sandy Springs Municipal Court. Ms. Ernst’s appointment was introduced by Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and confirmed by the Sandy Springs City Council during the June 3, 2014 City Council meeting. The oath of office was administered to Ms. Ernst by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Tom Campbell.

Sandy Springs Municipal Court Judges serve four-year terms. The City’s Municipal Court Judges hear traffic offenses (including DUI charges), local ordinance violations, and conduct preliminary hearings, issue warrants, and in some instances, hear misdemeanor shoplifting and possession of marijuana cases.

Ms. Ernst has more than 26 years of civil litigation experience. Her practice is focused on business and commercial law, including breach of contract, business torts, and creditor/debtor litigation. She also has significant experience in zoning and local government law, real estate development and sustainability law, as well as eminent domain, construction, environmental, and land use litigation.

Ms. Ernst attended the University of Georgia, where she obtained a B.B.A. in Economics in 1984. She then received a J.D. in 1987 from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she was a member of the Editorial Board of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law.

Ms. Ernst has an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubble and has been named by Georgia Trend magazine as one of Georgia’s Legal Elite in the area of General Practice/Trial Law.

Ms. Ernst is a long-time resident of Sandy Springs. She is a 2000 graduate of Leadership Sandy Springs and a member of the Advisory Committee of Youth Leadership Sandy Springs. She is married to Michael Ernst and they have two daughters – Megan, who attends the University of Georgia and Erin, who attends Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School.

Ms. Ernst commented that she “has a passion for helping the community, an interest in the well-being of society, and a respect for justice and law.”  She “will work to ensure that the City’s court system provides justice, up-holds citizens’ rights, and preserves public safety for the community.”