Melissa Banker was named Indigent Defense Director for Forsyth County in November 2022, replacing former Administrator Connie Brooker, who retired in December 2022.

Banker brings over 20 years of experience as an attorney in the Forsyth County criminal justice system. Most recently, Banker served for more than a year as the Forsyth County Accountability Court defense attorney, working collaboratively with the CARE Program, Drug Court, and DUI Court.

“My goal as Indigent Defense Director is to help give a voice to the voiceless by providing quality legal representation through attorney appointment and knowledge of defendants’ needs and attorneys’ skills,” said Banker.

Banker has lived in Forsyth County for over 40 years and graduated from Forsyth Central High School in 1993. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from Emory University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University.

Her career in law also includes serving as the Cumming regional coordinator of the Georgia High School Mock Trial from October 2010 to April 2016 and president of the Forsyth County Criminal Defense Bar from January 2020 to December 2020.

“The County will benefit greatly from the wealth of experience and knowledge Banker brings to the role. I am confident she will serve our citizens in an exemplary manner,” said Forsyth County Chief Financial Officer Marc Turk.

Indigent Defense of Forsyth County is responsible for providing a just, efficient, and vigorous indigent defender program by providing defense attorneys, through appointment and Attorney of the Day assignments, to criminal defendants in Forsyth County who meet indigency criteria, or, as ordered by the judiciary.