The Honorable W. Fletcher Sams

Judge, State Court of Fayette County

A 6th generation native of Fayette County, Judge Sams was born on March 29, 1954, and graduated with a B.A. in Biology from Rhodes College in 1976. He obtained his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1979.

Prior to being elected to the bench for State Court, Judge Sams practiced law in a variety of public and private capacities. He has served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Waycross Judicial Circuit and was later elected to serve as the District Attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Judge Sams has also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, as a Special Master for the Griffin Judicial Circuit, and as the City Attorney for the Town of Brooks. In addition to his public service positions, Judge Sams spent a number of years in private practice in Griffin and Fayetteville and taught as an Associate Professor of Criminology for Mercer University.

Judge Sams has served as the judge for Fayette County State Court since its inception in 1997. He is a presenter for the Council of State Court Judges’ New Judge Orientation Seminars and various Continuing Legal Education Seminars. Judge Sams also serves on the Executive Committee for the Council of State Court Judges, District 4.