Judge Tangela Hopkins Barrie
DeKalb County Superior Court
On December 2, 2008, the citizens of DeKalb County elected then 35-year-old, Tangela M. Barrie, to the Superior Court of DeKalb County. Judge Barrie is the youngest Superior Court Judge elected to the circuit. In her capacity as a Superior Court Judge, she handles felony cases ranging from theft to murder. Her civil case load includes adoptions, divorces, and various other civil matters.
Prior to taking the bench, Judge Barrie was assigned to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit. She worked vigorously advocating for the safety of women and other victims. In recognition of her efforts, in 2006, she was awarded by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office the Boundless Commitment to the Community Award. Subsequently, she was selected as the 2007 Prosecuting Attorney of the Year for the successful prosecution of her cases.
Judge Barrie has received many awards. To name a few, in 2009, Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys awarded Judge Barrie with the Bensonetta Tipton Lane Award for her tireless dedication to family safety. As well, she was awarded the Safety and Justice Award (2012), HerStory Award (2013); Sinkfield Leadership Award (2013), and The Justice Trailblazer Award (2015). In 2015, Judge Barrie was named as one of Albany State University’s top 50 Under 50 Alumnus. Through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she was awarded both the DST- Public Policy Change Agent award (2016) and DST - Pota E. Costen Trailblazer Award (2017). Then, in 2019, she was awarded the Native Trailblazer Award sponsored by the Thomasville Hall of Fame in Thomasville, Georgia. In 2020, 2023, and 2025 she received recognition for coaching a high school team to state rounds in Georgia’s mock trial competition.
With her strong family roots and commitment to community safety, she dedicated herself to educating and empowering the community. She is a devoted advocate for young lawyers and our youths as she offers an active Intern-in-Chamber Program. She is an active member of several service organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Stone Mountain – Lithonia Alumnae Chapter), and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW- DeKalb Chapter). Judge Barrie has served on the boards of various professional organizations, including the Wade Walker YMCA of Decatur, Georgia, Charles L. Weltner Family Law Inn of Court (executive board), Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (Professional Development Academy), and Gate City Bar- Judicial Section (executive board). She is, as well, a member of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL), DeKalb Bar Association, DeKalb Lawyers Association, Atlanta Bar Association, and the State Bars of Georgia, Florida, and Texas.?In 2019, she was asked to serve on the Board of Overseers, a prestigious honor, for Stetson University College of Law. In 2022, she became President of the Judicial Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. Finally, in 2024, she was selected into the DeKalb Leadership Class of 2025.
She is most proud, however, for serving, from January 1, 2015, to December of 2016, as Chief Judge for DeKalb County Superior Court and Chief Presiding Judge of DeKalb County’s Accountability Court (known also as Drug Court) in 2017.
Today, she continues to serve DeKalb County as the presiding judge of Division 10 of the DeKalb Judicial Circuit. Judge Tangela M. Barrie is a devoted wife to Dr. Mahmoud Barrie and the mother of three sons.
