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Elaine immigrated to the U.S. from Ghana and grew up in Maryland. She has a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She lives with her husband and their four children in Lilburn.

Elaine Amankwah Nietmann is an attorney. She operates her own firm, the Law Office of Elaine A. Nietmann, where she has been for seven years. She also volunteers as a guardian ad litem for the Gwinnett County Probate Court and serves as a conflict public defender.

Elaine Amankwah Nietmann’s campaign for Judge of the State Court of Gwinnett County is not her first entry into politics. She ran for U.S. Congress in 2020 and lost the election to incumbent Representative Hank Johnson.

LinkedIn

Elaine operates her own law firm, the Law Office of Elaine A. Nietmann. She represents clients in both civil and criminal law matters. This means she represents people accused of a crime and people being sued. She also manages family law matters and assists individuals with drafting wills, power of attorney documents, and other end of life matters.

Elaine is a volunteer guardian ad litem for the Gwinnett County Probate Court. A guardian ad litem is appointed by the court to act on behalf of a person who is a minor or incapacitated adult. As a guardian ad litem in Gwinnett County Probate Court, Elaine acts on behalf of some adults facing legal guardianships or conservatorships while their case is ongoing.

- Elaine operates her own law firm, the Law Office of Elaine A. Nietmann. She represents clients in both civil and criminal law matters. This means she represents people accused of a crime and people being sued. She also manages family law matters and assists individuals with drafting wills, power of attorney documents, and other end of life matters. 
- Elaine is a volunteer guardian ad litem for the Gwinnett County Probate Court. A guardian ad litem is appointed by the court to act on behalf of a person who is a minor or incapacitated adult. As a guardian ad litem in Gwinnett County Probate Court, Elaine acts on behalf of some adults facing legal guardianships or conservatorships while their case is ongoing.

Legal Experience

GA Bar

Elaine is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  She has no public disciplinary actions on record.

- Elaine is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  She has no public disciplinary actions on record.

Ethics & Conduct

Elaine’s website states, “She possesses … the ability to explain and administer the law in the simplest of ways.”

- Elaine’s website states, “She possesses … the ability to explain and administer the law in the simplest of ways.”

Judicial Administration

Wants to decrease crime in Gwinnett County.

Said, “\[I know] that the safety and wellbeing of our community will require our courts’ intervention with the provision of innovative rehabilitation and educational services, and \[I am] ready and willing to provide this intervention.”

- Wants to decrease crime in Gwinnett County. 
- Said, “\[I know] that the safety and wellbeing of our community will require our courts’ intervention with the provision of innovative rehabilitation and educational services, and \[I am] ready and willing to provide this intervention.”

Judicial Philosophy

Elaine Amankwah Nietmann

Erica is from Washington, D.C. and has lived in Georgia since 1980. She attended Gwinnett County elementary, middle, and high schools. She has a bachelor’s in the Administration of Justice and a Juris Doctor from Howard University.

Erica is an attorney. She established her own law firm in 2015, and she was sworn in as a Municipal Court Judge for Lilburn and Chamblee in 2022. She previously worked as a prosecutor in the Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office and as an attorney at King and Spalding.

Erica Dove’s campaign for Judge of the State Court of Gwinnett County is her first entry into politics.

Erica is a criminal defense attorney at her firm, The Law Office of Erica K Dove. She also handles a small number of divorce and social security matters.

She is a part-time Municipal Court Judge in Chamblee and Lilburn. As a Municipal Court Judge, she hears misdemeanor traffic cases, city ordinance violations, and certain state misdemeanor crimes.

Previously, Erica served as an Assistant Solicitor General in the Gwinnett County Solicitor-General’s Office. As an Assistant Solicitor General, Erica prosecuted misdemeanor criminal cases where she served as lead counsel in trials and hearings.

Previously, Erica worked as an attorney at international law firm King & Spalding.

- Erica is a criminal defense attorney at her firm, The Law Office of Erica K Dove. She also handles a small number of divorce and social security matters. 
- She is a part-time Municipal Court Judge in Chamblee and Lilburn. As a Municipal Court Judge, she hears misdemeanor traffic cases, city ordinance violations, and certain state misdemeanor crimes. 
- Previously, Erica served as an Assistant Solicitor General in the Gwinnett County Solicitor-General’s Office. As an Assistant Solicitor General, Erica prosecuted misdemeanor criminal cases where she served as lead counsel in trials and hearings.  
- Previously, Erica worked as an attorney at international law firm King & Spalding.

Erica is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  She has no public disciplinary actions on record.

- Erica is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  She has no public disciplinary actions on record.

Said, “It is my intention and plan to work hard for you and serve with integrity, and rule with impartiality and fairness.”

- Said, “It is my intention and plan to work hard for you and serve with integrity, and rule with impartiality and fairness.”

As of April 1, 2022, Erica Dove’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Erica is a board member with the Seeking the Right Amendable Path (STRAP) Mentor Program, a program designed to rescue and inspire at-risk youths in Gwinnett County.

- Erica is a board member with the Seeking the Right Amendable Path (STRAP) Mentor Program, a program designed to rescue and inspire at-risk youths in Gwinnett County.

Community Involvement

Erica Dove

Matt is from Gainesville, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s from Georgia State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee. He lives with his wife and three children in Lawrenceville.

Matt Miller is an Assistant Solicitor in the Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office, where he has been for three years. He previously operated his own law firm, The Law Office of Matthew F. Miller and worked at other private law firms.

Matt Miller’s campaign for Judge of the State Court of Gwinnett County is his first entry into politics.

Matt is a Supervising Attorney in the Gwinnett Solicitor’s Office. As an Assistant Solicitor, Matt prosecutes a wide range of misdemeanor cases including DUIs and vehicular homicide.

Previously, Matt was a solo-practitioner attorney. As a solo-practitioner, he focused on criminal defense and juvenile cases. He has defended clients who have been accused of felonies and misdemeanors in the state of Georgia. Matt has represented numerous children charged with crimes as a juvenile. He has also represented both children and parents in dependency proceedings. This means he has represented children and parents in proceedings after allegations of child abuse or neglect.

Previously, Matt was in private practice. As a private attorney, Matt tried many types of cases including criminal defense, personal injury, civil defense, and contract disputes. This means he has defended people accused of a crime and people being sued.

- Matt is a Supervising Attorney in the Gwinnett Solicitor’s Office. As an Assistant Solicitor, Matt prosecutes a wide range of misdemeanor cases including DUIs and vehicular homicide. 
- Previously, Matt was a solo-practitioner attorney. As a solo-practitioner, he focused on criminal defense and juvenile cases. He has defended clients who have been accused of felonies and misdemeanors in the state of Georgia. Matt has represented numerous children charged with crimes as a juvenile. He has also represented both children and parents in dependency proceedings. This means he has represented children and parents in proceedings after allegations of child abuse or neglect. 
- Previously, Matt was in private practice. As a private attorney, Matt tried many types of cases including criminal defense, personal injury, civil defense, and contract disputes. This means he has defended people accused of a crime and people being sued.

Matt is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  He has no public disciplinary actions on record.

- Matt is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.  He has no public disciplinary actions on record.

His website states, “Matt Miller knows what it takes to be an effective and efficient State Court Judge.”

- His website states, “Matt Miller knows what it takes to be an effective and efficient State Court Judge.”

His website states, “He will treat all who appear before him fairly and with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

- His website states, “He will treat all who appear before him fairly and with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

Matt is an officer on his kids’ PTA and chaired the Gwinnett County Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Picnic.

- Matt is an officer on his kids’ PTA and chaired the Gwinnett County Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Picnic.

Matt Miller

- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court. 
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases. 
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise. 


Local Judges who hear misdemeanors and some civil cases

Gwinnett State Court Judge

Candidates (3)

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Legal Experience

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Community Involvement