DeKalb County Courthouse — Local services in Decatur

Expect airport-style security, then head to Suite 100 for check-in — bring your summons card to speed things up. Staff provide a “JUROR” sticker and instructions, followed by a waiting period with an intro video. Staff will come in at intervals to call names and provide instructions. Be prepared to stay for several hours, possibly without a lunch break. so bring snacks and water (vending machines available). There is free Wi-Fi, but the signal is quite weak. Inside the waiting room, there’s a sticker with the parking validation code.

Once selected, jurors are given a number and sent upstairs to a courtroom. There, you line up and enter in order. Inside, you’ll receive a briefing, followed by a series of questions where jurors respond using numbered placards.

During my first visit on June 10, 2024, the judge had an emergency and rescheduled the selection in the middle of the jury selection questions. We were released around 5:30 p.m. I had international travel the next day, but staff were unhelpful until one kind employee took my info and thankfully got me dismissed that evening. A week later, I received a $15 check.

I was summoned again recently — waited from noon until 5 p.m. only to be released without participating. A full day wasted. On the plus side, the registration staff were friendlier this time. The process definitely needs improvement.

Parking may be a challenge at the deck, so consider taking MARTA. Get off at Decatur Station (Blue Line, eastbound) and use the Swanton Way exit; it’s a short walk to...

Courthouse has assisted with needs, whenever frequented. If you are a repeat offender or neglectful with child support payments, Judge Yolanda Parker- Smith is the best judge. You will acquire infractions and they will NOT be enforced. You will receive incarceration orders only to be rescinded. She is extremely favorable towards dead beat fathers and ignores struggling mothers who hire counsel.

The judge who signed my TPO was direct, professional and did not run her courtroom as a circus. She saw that my minor child and self needed protection and via paperwork (multiple filings) saw that the coparent is neglectful and has no desire to parent. If you’re in the wrong, and go before Parker, you will be victorious! 😉If you’re the parent following the orders, doing everything correctly, and honest, be advised that you will be not be vindicated in her courtroom and wasting money for your attorney to speak for 10 mins. The criminals prevail here. This is not all judges of Dekalb Superior Court, however. Most judges facilitate their courtrooms as court.

*Also, if you have an active warrant and appear to court with your minor child, you will not be arrested in courtroom 6B. The current warrant will be disregarded and you’ll receive a lesser infraction. Advice is also given to pro se individuals but prefaced by stating that one has to be treated as if you were an attorney. It’s as if this courtroom has an affinity towards those who do not...

Disappointed. Jury Duty. First, one male Security Officer tall man with glasses was rude on Monday, January 27, 2025. It was just the way he was speaking to people.

From the remaining folks that had not been previously called for potentially assigned to case, Court clerk sent about 55 people to lunch at 11a for one hour and forty-five minutes, to learn after returning those that remain behind were released immediately for the day.

Once those that returned from lunch, all 55 were assigned to courtroom 6A to continue with the juror selection process.

We were broken up in 4 group’s, lined up according to Clerk and seated together based in grouping.

After last break that was supposed to be 5-10 minutes, which was about 20-30 minutes, we entered back into courtroom 530p and told to sit anywhere, Judge thanked us for your time and informed us they had picked the jurors/alternate without allowing the 4 group to the jurors booth to address follow up questions as they did with the other groups 1-3 as previously told would happen after sitting there all day. They picked jurors from groups 1-3 and released around 545p.

Though it was a long day, it was not fair the last group (4) of potential jurors did not get the opportunity to go through the juror/selection-process, even if none of us were selected.

Can’t say never again because if that card comes in the...