2026 Summer Public Defense Conference

My educational background prepared me for a multifaceted legal career. After earning my
Bachelor of Science from Oakwood College and a Master of Public Health from the University of
Alabama, I served as a Public Health Associate for the Centers for Disease Control. This public
health focus set the stage for my legal journey, which began after obtaining my Juris Doctorate
from the University of Dayton School of Law.
I initially entered private practice, focusing on a broad range of legal areas including
employment, criminal, personal injury, and domestic relations law. While maintaining my
practice, I expanded my knowledge base by becoming an adjunct professor at John Marshall
School of Law in Atlanta in 1994. There, I lectured in various subjects like Administrative Law,
Georgia Practice, trial and appellate advocacy, and Medical Malpractice.
My legal career also took me into the public sector. I served as a Senior Public Defender with
the City of Atlanta's Public Defender's Office. In 2001, I was appointed as an Associate Judge in
DeKalb County's Recorders Court, eventually becoming the Court's Chief Judge from 2002 to
2009. During this tenure, I also presided over the Educational Neglect Calendar at the State
Court and sat on the State and Superior Court Benches.
My passion for education extends beyond the courtroom. I previously chaired the Department of
Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies and served as Academic Dean at Bauder College in
Atlanta. I've also held faculty positions at Westwood College (Criminal Justice and Healthcare
Schools), Strayer University (since 2010), and American National University. Additionally, I
leveraged my knowledge in the business world, working as a contract manager for a Georgia
state agency and consulting on business and procurement matters through my own firm, Joy
Walker Consulting, LLC.
Currently, I continue to give back to the community by serving as the Director of Special Projects
for the Georgia Public Defender Council. My membership in the State Bar of Georgia and the
District of Columbia Bar Association further demonstrates my commitment to the legal
profession. I am honored to be a graduate of the inaugural class of the Public Defender
Leadership Academy, earning a certificate in professional development from the University of
Georgia