Yolanda L. Lewis
District Court Administrator/Chief Administrative Officer
Superior Court of Fulton County, Atlanta Judicial Center
Yolanda L. Lewis is the district court administrator and chief administrative officer of the Superior Court of Fulton County in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Her position is one of only 10 created by statute in the state of Georgia. In her role, Lewis is tasked with managing the largest and busiest court in the state by providing support to 20 elected judges, leadership to nearly 300 employees, oversight for 15 full-scale justice programs, and management of a combined budget of more than $28 million.
As Lewis reflects on her past 16 years in judicial and public administration, she shares that “preparation for your best opportunity is all about intentional growth and self-leadership. There is nothing that can take the place of preparation, not event intelligence or natural talent. Mentorship and having a circle of people that you trust around you is vital.”
Lewis is motivated by the sense of grace and quiet power that was on by her mother. “Coming from generational poverty and growing up in one of the poorest areas in the southeast, I am reminded of how important the gifts of community and possibility are to young women. My mother understood the importance of creating a winning circle and believing in the concept of ‘better’ even when the path to prosperity was not absolutely clear. She always said that women have to intentionally be great,” she said. This has contributed to a strong philanthropic spirit as she serves on the executive board of several local nonprofit organizations.
A native of Alabama, Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Master of public administration from the University of South Alabama. She also serves as a faculty member of Michigan State University’s Judicial Administration Program, and is a nationally recognized speaker on the topics of leadership and change management.
