Greg Douds
RELIABLE. EFFICIENT. PROVEN.
JUDICIAL
Greg Douds has been your Chief Associate Magistrate Court Judge since January 1, 2009. For more than 15 years, he has worked side-by-side with Chief Magistrate James Drane to transform the Court into a modern, efficiently-run, cost-effective department.
Greg implemented zero-based budgeting long before the County Commissioners required it. He navigated the forced courtroom closures during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that cases could progress as fast and fairly as health restrictions would permit; and rapidly cleared any backlog.
Greg is a trial and appellate lawyer, admitted to practice law in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Tax Court, and all the courts of Georgia and Maryland. Greg has handled numerous hearings, trials, and appeals; represented clients in administrative hearings; and presented oral argument before the Maryland Court of Appeals.
As a Certified Public Accountant with decades of experience, he brings a business approach to the Court to ensure your cases move efficiently and at the least possible cost to you and Cherokee County taxpayers.
FAMILY & PERSONAL
Greg and Kim have been married for 38 years. They moved to Cherokee County, Georgia 23 years ago, in 2001. They enjoy the outdoors, and recently upgraded their camping activities with the purchase of a teardrop camping trailer. Their little dog, Rooney, loves adventures!
As do-it-yourselfers, Greg and Kim handle almost every household repair and maintenance issue. Greg handles the plumbing, electric work, carpentry, and car maintenance, while Kim is the family painter and adds the artistic touch (she doesn’t trust Greg with paint rollers!). Kim is a skilled chef and baker; talented at home decor and holiday decorating; and she has a sharp eye for gardening. She’ll map out a beautiful and unusual landscape, but don’t be surprised to see her wielding a pick-axe in the front yard.
Greg and Kim have a son, David, a third-generation lawyer. A dual-major graduate of UGA and Georgia State law grad, David is a Georgia Public Defender handling criminal appeals in the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.
EDUCATION & CAREER
Greg had a paper route at age 13, and worked various retail and service jobs through high school and college. Greg’s first job after attending business school at the University of Maryland was a Finance Officer position with the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA accepted him into the competitive Career Training Program (also referred to as “spy school”), where Greg studied government accounting, logistics, personnel, budgeting, finance, other administrative skills that keep large organizations moving, and certain “other things.” Greg managed a payroll office where he paid his own salary by slashing overtime costs (with zero loss of productivity), and fixed several years of IRS tax reporting errors.
Greg left the CIA after five years to work for a small, general practice CPA firm where he earned the skills requirement for a CPA license, and further honed his business skills.
From there, Greg moved to a CPA position with the United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds, a multi-billion dollar group of benefit plans that supported the United Mine Workers Union members. Greg managed an accounting team and handled financial reporting for about 13 plans. While there, he studied law at night at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.
Catholic University was a wonderful law school, where students helped one another, unlike the conflict-filled scenario you see in “The Paper Chase.” Greg spent countless hours in the many chapels on campus, especially on test nights.
Greg opened a law practice, helped numerous clients through trial and appeal, and then moved with his family to Georgia in June of 2001.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Greg is a Catholic, Kim is a Lutheran. It’s a symbiotic relationship. In Maryland, Greg was elected as Treasurer, then President, of Kim’s Lutheran Church council. Never taking a theological position (because he’s not a Lutheran), Greg earned kudos by making sure meetings moved efficiently and the church’s needs were met. He worked closely with Bishop Schneider to select a new Pastor when the founding Pastor retired.
Greg studied with his father at the Archdiocese of Atlanta to be a Catholic Marriage Annulment Counselor. He helped several clients through the annulment process, which is governed by Catholic Canon Law.
Greg has been a Cub Scout Den Leader; a Boy Scout Scoutmaster who helped raise several Eagle Scouts (including his son, David); he’s served on various boards of directors including Zechariah Ministries (a youth prison ministry) and the Anna Crawford Childrens’ Center.
MILITARY SERVICE
Major Greg Douds is the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (Deputy JAG) in the Georgia State Defense Force. The GSDF is an official, all-volunteer (unpaid) military branch of the Georgia Department of Defense. Greg leads a team of soldier-attorneys who support the Georgia Army National Guard’s Legal Assistance Program. The Program provides basic, free legal services to active, retired, and separated soldiers and their immediate families.
In that role, Greg estimates that his team has provided more than $500,000 of free legal services since 2015. In 2023, Greg and the members of his team were awarded the Georgia Meritorious Service Medal for that effort.
Greg also has earned a Commendation Medal, Pandemic Response Ribbon, Humanitarian Response Ribbon, and Active Duty Ribbon. Greg has participated in National Guard soldier combat training missions and search and rescue missions.
Important Voter Dates
April 29
EARLY VOTING BEGINS
May 21
PRIMARY ELECTION
Nov 5
TOO LATE!
15+
YEARS AS CHIEF ASSOCIATE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
28+