The Northeastern Judicial Circuit is proud to announce Chief Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin as the inaugural recipient of the Judge Stephen S. Goss Mental Health Award, given by the Council of Accountability Court Judges of Georgia.
Judge Gosselin was presented this first-time, prestigious award by Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Georgia Supreme Court during the CACJ’s Annual Training Conference, September 14-16, 2020. The award comes after many years of hard work and dedication to her passion of helping those in the community with mental health issues.
Gosselin is a pioneer in the field, having started the first Mental Health Court in the circuit, as well as helping to establish the Treatment Services Program – a department that now oversees nine accountability courts, a drug lab, and Substance Abuse Services.
“Judge Gosselin has impacted hundreds of lives throughout her career. Her guidance, wisdom, and kind spirit are inspiring," said Treatment Services Director Jessi Emmett.
Fellow Superior Court Judge Jason J. Deal said of Gosselin: “She serves as a mentor…and is truly a leader, known throughout the State and under the Gold Dome.”
The Judge Stephen S. Goss award was created to honor the former Doughtery County and Georgia Court of Appeals judge, who passed away in 2019 having left a long legacy of service and dedication to treatment courts statewide. The CACJ was created by the Georgia legislature in 2015, with a mission of providing a unified framework that promotes and improves the quality, accessibility and administration of Accountability Courts. This year’s Annual Training Conference includes over 1,200 participants.