On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) presented The Distinguished Alumni Award to two incredible alumni at the 2021 commencement ceremony. This year’s honorees are Judge Angela Duncan, Class of 1996, and Corey Martin, Class of 2009. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to alumni who have obtained distinction in their professional careers. Those honored share the same characteristics of leadership, progressive thinking, high standards, uncompromising integrity, commitment, courage, and confidence. Their careers serve as models for Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School students and alumni.
Honorable Angela Duncan
Angela D. Duncan is the newest Superior Court Judge in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit and was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from North Georgia College and served in the U.S. Army Reserves from March 1987 to March 1995 as a light-weight vehicle mechanic.
She later attended Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School part-time attending both day and night classes while also maintaining a full-time job. Throughout her study, she sought to experience different areas of law by working at a different firm each year of law school. She learned every aspect of private firms, from working in the file room to becoming a law librarian assistant and court runner. She also experienced many different law practices prior to graduation, from labor law and appellate work to personal injury and criminal defense.
While continuing her practice, Judge Duncan served as a Judge in the Cities of Chamblee, Snellville, Doraville, and Norcross Municipal Courts and as a part-time Judge for the Magistrate Court in Gwinnett County before she was appointed as a full-time Magistrate Court Judge in 2016. She was the Chief Judge in the City of Chamblee when Governor Kemp appointed her to the Superior Court bench.
Judge Duncan’s passion for service is not just reserved for the legal system in Gwinnett County. When she is not presiding over court proceedings she can be found out in the community participating in one of the many outreach programs she is a member of, including the Veterans Resource Center and serving as a board member for Gold Star Monument.
Corey Martin
Corey Martin is the Founder and Managing Partner at The Law Offices of Martin & Associates located in Douglasville, Georgia. His law practice focuses on Criminal Defense, Immigration and Personal Injury. He is a Senior Adviser for Martin Financial Solutions and Counsel for J&A Sports Management. He graduated with Honors in 2009 from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and received his undergraduate Math Degree from Excelsior College. While in law school Corey externed with the IRS, Douglas County Solicitor General’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security- Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Corey is an eight (8) year military veteran and is the Supervising Attorney of AJMLS’, Veterans Legal Clinic located at Fort McPherson, Georgia. The Legal Clinic represents veterans free of charge in misdemeanor criminal cases throughout the State of Georgia. He is an active member of the AJMLS Alumni Board and frequently volunteers to help students prepare for the legal field.
Corey is a 2020 Daily Report Distinguished Leaders Award Honoree and the recipient of the 2020 State Bar of Georgia, William B. Spann Jr. Award. He is also a Douglas County Partner in Education, a Douglas County Juvenile Court Administrative Council Member, a Match Mentor, a Partner of Fundacion Voces Unidas and a member of several Boards.