Rhathelia Stroud at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- DeKalb County Magistrate Court
- Jurisdiction
- Georgia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Rhathelia Stroud
Judge · DeKalb County Magistrate Court
Biography
Professional career
- Current Roles: Presiding Judge, Misdemeanor Mental Health Court (MMHC) — the longest-running mental health court of its kind in Georgia, established in 2001 Chief Judge, Decatur Municipal Court DeKalb County Magistrate for 16 years
- The presiding judge of DeKalb County’s Misdemeanor Mental Health Court (MMHC) and the chief judge of the Decatur Municipal Court, with over 14 years as presiding judge and 16 years as a magistrate
Education
Additional information
- Held the role of MMHC director for 7 years before becoming presiding judge
- Long-time judicial leader in DeKalb County, known for her work in mental health courts, but is currently facing a high-profile legal and ethical challenge tied to a disputed will.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
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.
Uniform Superior, Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal and Probate Court RulesSupreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Uniform Municipal Court Rules, December 31, 2025
Decatur Municipal Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Georgia Magistrate Court Rule 15 — virtual proceedings
DeKalb County Magistrate Court
Georgia Magistrate Courts only. Virtual proceedings; consent, exceptions and judicial orders control. Dated 2023 source, later amendments not exhaustively certified.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked August 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules ↗Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 25, 2026
View Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster ↗