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ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Dougherty County Superior Court Chief Judge Denise Marshall has appointed Valerie Brown-Williams as Dougherty County’s new Juvenile Court judge, according to an announcement shared Monday, April 13.

Brown-Williams has served as Dougherty County’s associate juvenile judge since June 2025.

According to her official biography, Brown-Williams is a graduate of Mercer University School of Law and is a member of the Dougherty Bar Association for years, previously serving as treasurer. She is also a member of the Child Protection and Advocacy Section and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

A swearing-in ceremony for her new full-time role will be scheduled at a later date, and the time will be announced once finalized.

According to Dougherty County, the Juvenile Court was established to “assist, protect and restore, if possible,” children under 17 in cases alleging delinquency (except capital offenses), including for traffic offenses. They also preside over juveniles in need of treatment or commitment as a mentally ill or special needs.

The court also handles proceedings such as:

• Judicial consent for marriage
• Employment or enlistment when required by law
• Transfer of juveniles through the Interstate Compact
• Termination of the legal parent-child relationship (excluding adoption)
• Notices related to an unemancipated minor seeking an abortion

Dougherty County officials say the Juvenile Court processes an annual caseload of more than 2,200 petitions, including “collecting restitution for victims, handling traffic fines, and insuring that indigent juveniles have legal counsel is a routine part of the Court’s daily function.”

The court can be reached at 229-431-2162.

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