Ms. Nora Lafaye Polk

DeKalb County Superior Court

Judge Nora Polk, a native Texan, received her B.A. in Political Science from Texas A&M University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. During her law school career, she attended the University of Cape Town in South Africa to study comparative justice through a Study Abroad program, one of the first such programs after Apartheid. 

Judge Polk initially worked for the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office for several months after law school before accepting a fellowship at Atlanta Legal Aid Society (ALAS) in 1998. She worked for ALAS for over eight years, as a fellow, staff attorney, and supervising attorney. Judge Polk opened Ashby & Polk, LLC law firm with her law partner in 2007.

She practiced in various areas, including family violence, housing, consumer, public benefits, disability, wills, trusts, estate planning, powers of attorney, guardianship, probate, elder law, divorce, custody, legitimation, and child support. In addition to representing clients, she served as a Guardian Ad Litem in domestic relations cases, an Ombudsman in bankruptcy cases involving patient care, and as a Hearing Officer in public housing informal review hearings. She is also a trained mediator.

In 2010, Judge Polk was appointed as a part-time Associate Magistrate Judge in DeKalb County. She became a Supervising Judge for Magistrate Court in 2016. Six years later, Governor Brian Kemp appointed her to Superior Court in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit.

She has been a guest lecturer at Atlanta Technical College, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Georgia State University, John Marshall Law School, University of Cincinnati School of Law, and an adjunct instructor in the Emory Law School Trial Techniques Program. Judge Polk has presented at a variety of ICLE trainings and is a trainer for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Judge Polk is an ardent supporter of youth in her community, visiting schools and inviting students into her courtroom. She volunteers with numerous organizations and has established several Access to Justice programs for the public throughout the years.

Beyond her memberships in community organizations and various bar associations,

she is a member of:

the 2006 Founding Class of the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division’s

Leadership Academy;

the 2013 Leadership DeKalb Class; and

the 2016 Leadership Georgia Class, serving as a 2022 Program Chair and Fanning

Fellow.

Judge Polk has been recognized by Who’s Who in the Profession and is the recipient of:

the 2012 GABWA Founder’s Award for Commitment to the Family;

the 2012 Atlanta Legal Aid Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award;

the 2013 Outstanding Service Award in Political Awareness and Involvement from the

Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated;

the 2015 Justice Benham Award for Community Service from the State Bar of Georgia;

the 2015-2016 Pota E. Coston Trailblazer Award presented at the Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority, Inc. Days at the Georgia State Capital Program; and

the 2019 Judicial Engagement Network Fellowship.