--- title: "Melanie B. Cross | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-b-cross" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-09-06" --- # Melanie B. Cross Irwin County Superior Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Irwin County Superior 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. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Melanie B. Cross is a Superior Court judge for the Tifton Judicial Circuit in Georgia, serving since her 2008 election and re‐elected in 2012 - Elected in 2008 to the Tifton Judicial Circuit Superior Court (covering Irwin, Tift, Turner, and Worth Counties), Judge Cross was re‐elected in 2012 - Judge Cross received an Associate Degree in Science, with honors, from Abraham Baldwin College in 1987, and she received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1989 - Judge, Irwin County Superior Court - During her law school career, Judge Cross was invited to join the Mercer Law Review at the beginning of her second year, and she was a Managing Editor of the Law Review her third year ### Education ### Additional information - She has also served on the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Board of Trustees and the local chamber of commerce, and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia (Class of 2010) - She earned an Associate Degree in Science (with honors) from Abraham Baldwin College in 1987, a B.B.A. in Finance, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1989, and a J.D. from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1992 During law school, she joined the Mercer Law Review in her second year and held the role of Managing Editor in her third year - Born and raised in Tifton, Tift County, Georgia, Judge Cross graduated honors from Tift County High School in 1985. - Upon graduation from law school, Judge Cross returned to Tifton, where she was in the private practice of law until her election to the bench. - Her legal background includes a wide array of areas, including insurance defense, plaintiff’s work, health care, commercial transactions, corporate law, banking law, general trial practice, and real estate. - Judge Cross also spent over twelve (12) years as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the State of Georgia and the Department of Human Resources, where she protected the interests of children in cases of deprivation, neglect and abuse. - Judge Cross is married to Ray Cross, and together, they have three (3) boys. ## 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 ### recording devices and courtroom access Scope: statewide For Georgia Superior Court proceedings, statewide Rule 22 governs recording devices and courtroom recording; counsel should confirm judge approval and courtroom conditions before using recording, photographic, or comparable electronic presentation equipment. Evidence excerpt: The new version will take effect on May 1, 2018. [Supreme Court of Georgia, New Rule 22 approved for use of recording devices in courtrooms](https://www.gasupreme.us/new-rule-22/) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af023cce9168f520c4dd00/) - [Official roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af023cce9168f520c4dd00/) - [Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules) - [Supreme Court of Georgia, New Rule 22 approved for use of recording devices in courtrooms](https://www.gasupreme.us/new-rule-22/) - [Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af023cce9168f520c4dd00/) - [Official court biography — Melanie B. Cross](https://tiftcircuit.com/index.php/superior-court-judges/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-b-cross", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-b-cross", "name": "Melanie B. Cross | KnowJudges", "description": "Melanie B. Cross, Irwin County Superior Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-09-06", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-b-cross#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-b-cross#judge", "name": "Melanie B. 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Collected April 9, 2026 compilation; amendments effective November 5, 2026 are future on this collection date and are not applied. 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/4/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/14025702/UNIFORM-SUPERIOR-COURT-RULES-2026_04_09.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.