Judge Allyson R. Pitts, a well-respected figure in Georgiaโs legal circles, has been appointed as the newest full-time judge of the City of Atlanta Municipal Court by Mayor Andre Dickens. But if the name sounds familiar, thatโs because Judge Pitts has already been serving Atlanta behind the bench since 2017 as a Pro Hac Judge. Now, sheโs stepping into the role full-time.
โJudge Pitts is an experienced and well-respected jurist who has already served the City of Atlanta with the highest of standards for years,โ said Mayor Dickens. โNow with a permanent place in our Municipal Court, her wisdom and leadership will be extraordinarily beneficial for both the judiciary and the people of Atlanta.โ
A Legal Leader with Deep Roots
Judge Pitts brings with her more than 25 years of legal and judicial experience. From the Fulton County Juvenile Court to Clayton and Fulton County Magistrate Courts, sheโs served on nearly every level of Georgiaโs court system. In 2010, she made history as the first African American woman appointed Chief Judge in Forest Park.
โI am extremely excited to continue to serve the citizens of Atlanta,โ said Judge Pitts. โI will continue to be efficient, serving with integrity and fairness, and offer mercy whenever possible.โ
Her legal experience extends beyond the bench. Since 1996, she has run her own private practice, Allyson R. Pitts & Associates, and has served as a court mediator for the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.
Recognition and Respect
Judge Pittsโ professional excellence has been recognized throughout her career. She has been honored as a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star, named to Atlanta Business Chronicleโs โWhoโs Who in the Law,โ and awarded both the Horace Ward Legacy Award and Thelma Wyatt Moore Legacy Award.
She has also been celebrated for her service by organizations such as the Gate City Bar Association and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, where she served as the organizationโs 23rd president.
โJudge Pitts has earned a reputation as a fair and highly competent jurist dedicated to the aims of justice,โ said Chief Judge Christopher E. Ward of the Atlanta Municipal Court. โI am certainโฆ Judge Pitts will enhance the courtโs status as best in class.โ
A Mentor, Professor and Community Voice
Outside of the courtroom, Judge Pitts teaches Family Law at Georgia State University College of Law and regularly shares her knowledge at professional legal conferences. She mentors aspiring lawyers and is actively involved in numerous community organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Metro Atlanta Lions Club, Atlanta Tri Sisters, and the South Fulton Running Partners.
She also co-chairs the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home, a nonprofit that supports children in need.
At Ben Hill United Methodist Church, Judge Pitts lends her voice to the Majestic Choir, helps lead the Food Bank Ministry, and serves on the churchโs Legal Ministry.
A Court Growing With the City
Judge Pittsโ appointment comes alongside the addition of four new Pro Hac Judges: April Williams, Bray Taylor, Jeffrey Lee, and Zenobia Waters. Together, they will help the Municipal Court continue its mission of providing fair, timely, and accessible justice to all.
For Judge Pitts, this new chapter is more than a promotion โ itโs a deepening of her long-standing commitment to justice, service, and equity in the City of Atla