Hon. Amanda Nichole Heath

Augusta Circuit Superior Court

The Honorable Amanda N. Heath is a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Her jurisdiction covers Burke and Richmond counties and she presides over civil, domestic and felony criminal cases.  Judge Heath was appointed by Governor Brian P. Kemp on October 13, 2021, and elected by her community in 2022 to continue her service on the Superior Court bench.  At the time of her election, Judge Heath was the first African American woman to be elected as a Superior Court Judge in the Augusta Circuit’s 152 year history.  Judge Heath is currently the only African American Superior Court Judge and is the youngest judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit.  Prior to elevating to the Superior Court bench, Judge Heath served as a Juvenile Court Judge for five years and was the first African American woman to serve in that position for Burke, Columbia and Richmond counties.

Judge Heath was previously a solo practitioner with a focus on civil, criminal and family law. Prior to opening her law practice, Judge Heath prosecuted violent felonies as an Assistant District Attorney and argued successfully before the Georgia Supreme Court. She also served as the lead prosecutor for Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Court. Her family taught her “to whom much is given, much will be required” and to take every opportunity to give back to the community through service.

Judge Heath is a graduate of Hampton University and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, summa cum laude in 2007.  She is also a graduate of Hampton’s Freddye T. Davy Honors College and is an alumna of the Concert Choir.  In 2017, Judge Heath was inducted into Hampton’s Top Forty Under Forty Society.

Judge Heath went on to attend law school at Mercer University and received her Juris Doctor degree in 2010 with a Certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research and Drafting.  In addition, she received the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service.  She participated in Mercer’s Habeas Clinic and was inducted into the Order of Barristers.  Judge Heath volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and with the Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Access and Fairness in the Courts.  Further, she is a previous Mercer Public Interest Fellow, Georgia Legal Services Dan Bradley Fellow, Gate City Bar Scholar and Otis Redding Scholar.

Judge Heath serves on the Georgia Supreme Court Committee for Justice for Children and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia. Judge Heath was elected as the first woman and first African American to represent Augusta on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia.  In 2023, she was elected by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to serve on the Board of Directors in the position of Treasurer.  Also, Judge Heath serves on the National Bar Association Judicial Council Executive Committee and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children Judicial Leadership Council.  Judge Heath is a past recipient of the Georgia CASA Champion Award.  

Further, Judge Heath serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Advocacy Office, Family YMCA of Greater Augusta, Heritage Academy, Harrisburg Family Healthcare, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Augusta Technical College Adult Education Advisory Board and Turner Theological Seminary Board of Trustees. She is an active member of the Zeta Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the Augusta (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and serves at her church as a teacher in the Children’s Ministry.