Office of the Cherokee County Solicitor-General

Congratulations to newly-elected State Court Judge Christopher L. Bishop. Mr. Bishop will succeed Judge W. Alan Jordan this coming January, and we are looking forward to working with him for many years to come. Welcome to the State Court Family, Judge Bishop!

As Crime Victims’ Rights Week comes to a close, we at the Solicitor’s Office want to take a moment to recognize our incredible “Glitter Squad”—the dedicated advocates who ensure victims feel informed, prepared, supported, and empowered every step of the way. ✨

Meet the Director of the Glitter Squad / Victim Witness Unit, Kayla Cleveland, who founded the unit here at the Solicitor’s Office. When Director Cleveland first began, she was the sole advocate serving victims across three courtrooms. Over the past decade, she has grown the program into a strong, three-advocate team. Today, she leads the unit while continuing to work closely on vehicular homicide and conflict cases, bringing both leadership and hands-on compassion to those who need it most.

Meet Senior Victim Witness Advocate Rebekah Allen Smith, who has served with the Solicitor’s Office for ten years. Ms. Allen Smith is our bilingual advocate, providing critical support for Spanish-speaking victims across all State Court courtrooms as well as Magistrate Court, ensuring language is never a barrier to justice.

Amanda Hall has been a valued member of our office for over three years. With a Master’s degree and a deep commitment to victim advocacy, Ms. Hall brings both knowledge and compassion to her work every day. She takes the time to guide victims through what can often be a confusing and overwhelming process, offering reassurance, clarity, and steady support. Her ability to connect with individuals and provide meaningful resources makes a lasting difference for the many people she serves.

Last, but certainly not least, meet Susan Stern, who brings more than twenty years of advocacy experience to our team. Ms. Stern has supported victims in a wide range of roles, from specialized units to pre-trial diversion, offering seasoned insight and unwavering dedication.

Please join us in thanking our Glitter Squad for all they do to serve and support the victims of Cherokee County. 💜

Today our team wore blue in recognition of Autism Awareness Day.

Every person deserves to be seen, heard, respected, and supported. We are proud to stand with individuals and families in our community affected by autism, and to help raise awareness and understanding.

Thank you to our staff for participating and helping us show that even small acts of support can make a difference.

We are proud to invest in the leaders who help move our office forward every day.

Last week, Deputy Chief Kryss Roch, Senior Assistant Solicitor Sara Grainger, and Senior Assistant Solicitor Marsha Terry attended Part 1 of the Guardian’s Ascent leadership development program through the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.

The program focused on Leading Self: Building the Foundation for Success, with an emphasis on mindset, habits, and the skills that help strong leaders serve others well.

We are grateful for the opportunity to continue learning, growing, and bringing new ideas back to better serve the people of Cherokee County.

Thank you to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia for investing in leaders across our state.

Discovery Process Update – Effective April 1, 2026

The Cherokee County Solicitor-General’s Office is implementing a new discovery process to make State Court more efficient.

Beginning April 1, 2026:

• Media discovery through Axon Justice
• Paper discovery through Tracker’s TED System
• Discovery cost reduced to $0 for attorneys current on media discovery fees
• Applies to retained and appointed counsel

Because the system requires a bar number, pro-se litigants will receive:
• Non-media discovery by email or office pickup
• Media discovery through Axon via secure link

We are always looking for ways to make State Court run faster and more efficiently, and this is the next step. The full written policy is attached below.

Please see Solicitor-General Hayes' letter to the President of the Blue Ridge Bar Association regarding our new discovery policy.

Our entire Victim/Witness Unit recently attended the 2026 Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia VWAP Conference.

We send our full team every year because victims deserve advocates who stay current on the law, best practices, and emerging issues in our courts.

This year’s sessions covered everything from survivor justice, communication with prosecutors, victims of non-violent crimes, and even AI in the courtroom.

Just as important, our advocates built relationships with colleagues across Georgia. Strengthening collaboration and support for the victims we serve here in Cherokee County.

We are proud of this team and grateful for the work they do every day.

Just a reminder that our office will be closed for training from 2:00 to 4:00 today.