---
title: "Crystal A. Gaines | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-a-gaines-ga-municipal-58af01face9168f520c4d3db"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-25"
---

# Crystal A. Gaines

Atlanta Municipal Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Atlanta Municipal Court
- State: Georgia
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### electronic devices and recording

Scope: statewide

Georgia's class-specific Uniform Court Rules govern electronic devices and recording in state trial courts. Before using recording, photography, livestreaming, or similar courtroom technology, confirm the governing rule and the assigned court's procedure.

Evidence excerpt: Uniform Superior, Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal and Probate Court Rules

[Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01face9168f520c4d3db/)
- [Official roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01face9168f520c4d3db/)
- [Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules)
- [Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01face9168f520c4d3db/)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-a-gaines-ga-municipal-58af01face9168f520c4d3db",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-a-gaines-ga-municipal-58af01face9168f520c4d3db",
      "name": "Crystal A. Gaines | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Crystal A. Gaines, Atlanta Municipal Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-25",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-a-gaines-ga-municipal-58af01face9168f520c4d3db#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-a-gaines-ga-municipal-58af01face9168f520c4d3db#judge",
      "name": "Crystal A. Gaines",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-a-gaines-ga-municipal-58af01face9168f520c4d3db",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Atlanta Municipal Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01face9168f520c4d3db/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Georgia",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/georgia"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Crystal A. Gaines",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/crystal-a-gaines-ga-municipal-58af01face9168f520c4d3db"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career


### Education

- North Carolina Central University School of Law — J.D. (1989)
- in Political Science — Albany State College — B.A. (1984)

### Additional information

- Judge Crystal A. Gaines is a long‐time judge of the Municipal Court of Atlanta, appointed in 2005, who presides over general traffic cases and was re‐elected in 2025 with 87% of the vote
- Responsible for presiding over general traffic matters and has experience in both jury and non‐jury trials, as well as legal administration Atlanta Municipal Court
- Gaines is a member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and numerous other legal and civil rights organizations



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Uniform Municipal Court Rules, December 31, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-9acfd5d59c7a383c114b177a) — Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://assets.georgiacourts.gov/2/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/01171708/UNIFORM-MUNICIPAL-COURT-RULES-12312025.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.