New Appointments to the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution

New Appointments to the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution

Atlanta, GA — On February 9, 2022, the Supreme Court of Georgia’s Commission on Dispute Resolution (GCDR) welcomed three new appointees: The Hon. Rebecca Crumrine Rieder, former Superior Court Judge and current registered neutral; Representative Rob Leverett, Georgia House District 33; and Judge Carrie B. Markham, Coweta County Probate Court. During the February 9 GCDR meeting, Justice John J. Ellington asked the new members to raise their right hand as he administered the oaths.

The Honorable Rebecca
Crumrine Rieder

Before beginning a full-time alternative dipute resolution practice, Rebecca Crumrine Rieder served as a Superior Court Judge in Fulton County. Recognized by her peers and the legal community as one of the top-rated attorneys in Georgia, Rebecca is a past chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Prior to taking the bench, Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine repeatedly recognized her as one of Georgia’s “Top 100 Lawyers” and “Top 50 Women Lawyers”. As a former judge, civil litigator, family lawyer, and educator, she has decades of experience mediating and consulting to resolution. A frequent author and speaker, Rebecca also believes in giving back to her community both professionally and personally through extensive involvement in volunteer leadership roles.

Rob Leverett, Representative.
House District 33

Representative Rob Leverett, the Chief Deputy Whip of the Georgia House Republican Caucus, was born and raised in Elberton, where he has been practicing law since 1992. He currently runs a private law practice focused primarily on real estate, estate planning, probate, and other general civil matters, while also serving as the City Attorney for the City of Hartwell. His civic wok does not stop there: he has participated and held leadership positions with several civic organizations, including Leadership Georgia, the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Elberton, Friends of Scouting, the Downtown Development Authority of Elberton, and the Board of Trustees of Elbert County Library. Rob Leverett’s first official crossover with GCDR-related work was when he carried the Georgia Uniform Mediation Act (SB 234) through the House of Representatives in 2021.

Hon. Carrie B. Markham, Coweta County
Probate Court

Judge Carrie B. Markham spent 14 years as a litigation attorney before becoming an Associate Probate Judge in 2019. When the opportunity to fill the unexpired term of a retiring probate judge arose, Judge Markham jumped to service for Coweta County as she had in the past; she is a member of the Newnan Kiwanis Club, a former member of the Newnan Junior Service League (service as Chair Board Member from 2011 to 2014), member of the 2010-2011 Class for Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce Leadership Coweta, and a member of the Central Baptist Church of Newnan. After a successful first full term election, Judge Markham was awarded the 2021 Rising Star Award by the Council of Probate Judges of Georgia. She will continue to be an asset to the GCDR Probate Court Working Group as they seek to expand the use of mediation in probate cases.

Following the swearing-in, Judge Cindy M. Morris, Chair of the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution, remarked, “We are delighted to welcome these three new members with their knowledge and experience. Each one will make a valuable contribution to the work of our Commission and we look forward to serving with them.”

The Supreme Court established the Commission on Dispute Resolution to administer a statewide comprehensive Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program; oversee the development and ensure the quality of all court programs; develop guidelines and approve court programs; develop criteria for training and qualifications of neutrals; and establish standards of conduct for neutrals. The 19-member Commission is comprised of representatives of all appellate and trial courts, a representative from both the General Assembly and the State Bar of Georgia, approved trainers and registered neutrals, a court ADR program director, and other professionals with an interest in dispute resolution.

For more information on the Commission, please click here.