NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESS Newswire / July 24, 2026 / Judge Amanda N. Heath was sworn in as president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the nation’s oldest and largest judicial membership and education organization, during the 89th Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The first African American woman to be elected as a superior court judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit’s 156-year history, Judge Heath brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization, advancing its mission to provide all judges, courts and related agencies involved with juvenile, family, and domestic violence cases with the knowledge and skills to improve the lives of the families and children who seek justice.
“Judge Heath steps into this role with an extensive career built on providing families with the community resources they need to support their lives,” said Amy Pincolini-Ford, JD, interim CEO of NCJFCJ. “Her trauma-informed approaches recognize the full context of a person’s life, carrying forward the NCJFCJ’s mission of building a justice system where fairness, equality, effectiveness, and timeliness become everyday realities for children and families across the country.”
Judge Heath’s work covers civil, domestic, and felony criminal cases in Burke and Richmond counties. Prior to her appointment and election to sit on the superior court bench, she served as the first African American woman juvenile court judge, solo practitioner, assistant district attorney, and trial team leader.
“It is an honor to serve as president of the NCJFCJ Board of Directors,” said Judge Heath. “Our nation’s juvenile and family courts face a vital need for effective impact, and I am committed to helping lead this forward to improve outcomes for children and families through systems change.”
Judge Heath has been recognized for her civic engagement as a past recipient of the Georgia CASA Champion Award, NAACP Augusta Branch Champion for Justice Award, and the iHeart Media Shero Award for Law and Government for demonstrating a career committed to justice, liberty, and fairness to all in the community throughout the Central Savannah River Area. In addition, Judge Heath has received the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice Good Apple Award for leading Georgia’s courts to advance justice and equity for youth, the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division Distinguished Judicial Service Award, and was highlighted as Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce & Augusta Magazine’s Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch.
Further, the National Bar Association selected Judge Heath as a member of the Centennial Class of the Top Forty Under Forty Nation’s Best Advocates with the added distinction of being named in the top five Best of the Best of the Centennial Class and received the Excellence in Innovation Award. She earned her undergraduate degree from Hampton University and her J.D. from Mercer University.
More than 4 million families are impacted by the work of the NCJFCJ every year. For more information, visit the website here.
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About the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ):
Founded in 1937, the Reno, Nevada-based National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is the nation’s oldest judicial membership and education organization focused on improving the effectiveness of our nation’s juvenile and family courts. A leader in continuing education opportunities, research, and policy development in the fields of juvenile and family justice, domestic violence, and domestic relations, the 2,000-member organization is unique in providing practice-based resources to jurisdictions and communities nationwide. The NCJFCJ serves an estimated 30,000 juvenile and family court professionals in state and tribal courts throughout the country.
Media Contact:
Chrisie Yabu, APR
chrisie.yabu@kps3.com
775-686-7437
SOURCE: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
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