The Superior Court judges of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit have named Alison W. Toller as the new Chief Juvenile Judge of the circuit, effective January 1, 2023. Judge Toller is a veteran of the court, having served on the juvenile court bench since her first appointment in December 2014. She was last re-appointed earlier this month to a new four-year term set to expire in December 2026. The Chief Judge designation comes as a result of the recent election of current Chief Juvenile Judge Lindsay H. Burton to a vacant Superior Court seat.
Judge Toller is a previous prosecutor with the Hall County District Attorney’s office and DeKalb County Solicitor’s Office, as well as a former private practitioner. She is a 1999 graduate of the Georgia State University College of Law, and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Since joining Juvenile Court, she has used her knowledge and experience to preside over the Hall County Family Treatment Court and to found the Dawson County Family Treatment Court. She currently serves as a committee member for both the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia and the Council of Juvenile Court Judges.
Prior to joining the bench, Judge Toller was a member of the Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County, served on the Board of the Children’s Center for Hope and Healing, and was a 2009 graduate of Leadership Hall. She has two wonderful and active children, both of whom attend Gainesville City Schools.
“Judge Toller was an easy and excellent choice,” stated Superior Court Chief Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. “She’s demonstrated leadership, wisdom, and compassion since her first day on the bench. Our children, community, and circuit are fortunate to have caring and eminently qualified judges like Judge Toller.”
Juvenile judges are appointed to four-year terms by the Superior Court judges of the circuit, and may preside in both Hall County and Dawson counties. After an expansion earlier this year, the circuit currently employs three other Juvenile judges, Judge Joe Diaz, Judge Matthew Leipold, and Judge Amber Sowers.