CHIEF JUDGE BILL REINHARDT

Bill Reinhardt was born and raised in Tifton, Georgia.  He graduated from Tift County High School in 1982 and received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree from the University of Georgia in 1986.  He received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1990.

Prior to his election to the bench in November of 2006, he practiced law at the firm of Reinhardt, Whitley, Wilmot, Summerlin & Pittman, P.C. in Tifton, Georgia handling a variety of domestic, criminal, business and transactional matters.  He was also actively involved with local government boards and public service organizations.

He & his wife, Lisa, have three children and two grandchildren.  The Reinhardts currently reside in Tifton where they attend the First United Methodist Church.

   JUDGE MELANIE B. CROSS

Melanie B. Cross was born and raised in Tifton, Tift County, Georgia.  She was an honor graduate of Tift County High School in 1985.  Judge Cross received an Associate Degree in Science, with honors, from Abraham Baldwin College in 1987, and she received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1989.  Judge Cross graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1992.  During her law school career, Judge Cross was invited to join the Mercer Law Review at the beginning of her second year, and she was a Managing Editor of the Law Review her third year.

Upon graduation from law school, Judge Cross returned to Tifton, where she was in the private practice of law until her election to the bench.  Her legal background includes a wide array of areas, including insurance defense, plaintiff’s work, health care, commercial transactions, corporate law, banking law, general trial practice, and real estate.  Judge Cross also spent over twelve (12) years as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the State of Georgia and the Department of Human Resources, where she protected the interests of children in cases of deprivation, neglect and abuse.

Judge Cross is married to Ray Cross, and together, they have three (3) boys.  The Cross family resides in Tifton, where they are active in the community.  Judge Cross and her family attend St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.

  JUDGE RALPH POWELL

Ralph Powell was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia. He earned an Associate’s Degree from Oxford College of Emory University in 1980, a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Georgia State University in 1987, and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1990.

Prior to his appointment, Ralph served as the State Court Judge of Worth County, the Municipal Court Judge of the cities of Poulan and Warwick, the County Attorney for Worth County and a managing member of the law firm of Wilmot & Powell with offices in Tifton and Sylvester. While practicing with Wilmot & Powell, Ralph represented clients in real estate, probate, criminal, civil litigation, estate planning and domestic matters. Prior to his practice with Wilmot & Powell, Ralph served as a prosecuting attorney for 10 years.

Ralph and his wife of over 30 years have one daughter and live on their family farm in Worth County, Georgia.