Chief Magistrate Judge  

JUDGE ELLEN I. PIERCE

 

 

Chief Magistrate Judge Ellen Pierce was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, attending and graduating from Ridgeview High School in 1973.  She attended the University of Georgia through 1976 as an English major. 

In 1978 Judge Pierce began working in the legal field for an attorney in the Atlanta area.  Since that time she has worked as a legal secretary and paralegal for several law firms in the Atlanta area in many different areas of the law, including general practice, real estate, domestic relations, wills and trusts, criminal and litigation.  

Judge Pierce moved to Putnam County in 1990.  She continued working in the private field for an attorney in Eatonton until 1993 when she was hired by Judge Yvonne Harrell, Probate Judge and Chief Magistrate of Putnam County. At that time, the Probate and Magistrate Courts were combined.  She also was a Clerk of State Court (which handled all traffic offenses) and Deputy Clerk for the Superintendent of Elections (which handled all elections for Putnam County).  Upon Judge Harrell’s retirement at the end of 1996, Judge Pierce was appointed Chief Magistrate by the Superior Court Judges of the Ocmulgee Circuit and began serving January 1, 1997.  She was elected to the position of Chief Magistrate in 1998, re-elected in 2002 and again in 2006  

For the past 14 years Judge Pierce has served the citizens of Putnam County in the Probate and Magistrate Courts of this county with the goal of helping the people of Putnam County.

 

 

Magistrate Judge   VIRGINIA C. LINCH

Judge Linch was appointed in February  2000 by Chief Magistrate Ellen I. Pierce.  Originally from St. Simons Island, Georgia, Judge Linch married Ronald S. Linch and moved to Eatonton in 1985.  Their combined family consists of Joshua S. Hall, Matthew C. Hall and Scarlet D. Poole.

 

Deputy Clerk   MURIEL HILL

Mrs. Hill has been the Deputy Clerk for the Magistrate office since 2000. She is married to Patrick Hill of Eatonton. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hill have one son, Patrick Hill, Jr. and daughter, Paige Hill.

 

 

Magistrate Judge   SYLVIA S. HUSKINS

After serving the community of Eatonton, Putnam County, Georgia in many capacities over the years, including Senior Magistrate for 15 years, Judge Huskins passed away unexpectedly on August 15, 2006.  She will be missed by the public she served with grace and integrity, the staff of Putnam County Magistrate Court and her family.