Chief Judge/Senior Recorder

David was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia. He attended St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic school. He then attended Columbus State University and received a full ROTC Scholarship to Mercer University. He graduated cum laude from Mercer University and was a Distinguished Military Graduate, ranking in the top 20 percent of Army ROTC graduates nationwide. The Army granted David an educational delay to attend law school. He attended and graduated from Mercer University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate degree.

David has 34 years of experience in criminal and civil litigation He served in the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Thereafter, he served as a Senior Assistant Solicitor General (and was selected as Assistant Solicitor General of the Year for the State of Georgia), Senior Associate at the law firm of Carlock, Copeland, Semler & Stair LLP, and a Senior Assistant District Attorney. He has served our community for over 20 years as a prosecutor, most recently serving as the Chief Assistant Solicitor General of Muscogee County. He is a member of the Georgia and Alabama State Bars and a member of the Columbus Bar Association. He is the current Vice President of the Columbus Bar Association; Trustee of the Columbus Lawyer’s Club Educational Foundation; Member of the Rotary Club of Columbus; Mentor for new lawyers (appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia); Master of the Bench, Columbus Inns of Court. David is a graduate of Leadership Columbus, the Leadership Development Program for the Columbus Consolidated Government, the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council Leadership Challenge, and has attended the National District Attorneys’ Association’s Career Prosecutor’s Executive Course. He has taught numerous legal courses for both prosecutors and law enforcement statewide. He currently serves as a board member on the New Horizons Community Service Board of Directors and has previously served as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the New Horizons Board of Directors; Executive Board Member of the Leadership Development Program for the Columbus Consolidated Government; past Committee Chair, Boy Scout Troop 1; past Chairman of the Stewardship Council and past Member of the Parish Council at St. Anne Catholic Church.

He is married to his wife, Katrina, and they have six adult children in their blended family, and one grandchild. David is dedicated to serving the public and maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in our justice system.

Susan L Henderson was in 1996 graduate of Columbus State University with a Bachelor of Science and Political Science. She's a 1999 graduate of Walter F George School of Law, Mercer University, with the Jurist Doctor degree. Upon graduation from Mercer, Susan was selected out of her class of travel the country recruiting potential law students at law school forums.

In 2000, Susan came back home to Columbus and began working at the Office of the District Attorney, specializing in prosecuting crimes against children. Susan remained in that office until 2004, when she made the move to the Office the Solicitor General, where she prosecuted domestic violence cases. In 2006, Susan ventured out into private practice, specializing in criminal defense.

Between 2002- 2006, Susan was an adjunct professor at Columbus State University, teaching criminal law and criminal procedure. Between 2015- 2020, Susan served as County Attorney for the Meriwether County Board of Commissioners.

Alonza is a native of Columbus, Georgia. He is a graduate of Jordan High School. He attended Alabama State University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management. He attended Creighton University Law School in Omaha, Nebraska where he received his Juris Doctorate. He is licensed to practice law in Nebraska and Georgia.

In 1994 he received his calling into the ministry. He was licensed to preach in 1994 and in 1995 he was ordained. He serves as Pastor of the Rose Hill Memorial Baptist Church.

February 2005, Alonza opened the law firm Whitaker and Whitaker, P.C.; where he and his twin brother, Alfonza are partners. He took on the role of inactive partner on January 2, 2009, to assume the duties of Chief Assistant District Attorney. On March 1, 2021, he resumed an active role in the firm.

Alonza served as the Chief Assistant District Attorney with the Chattahoochee Circuit District Attorney Office from January 2009 to March 2021.

He served as Environmental Court/Recorder’s Court Judge from February 2005 to June 2009. Prior to being appointed this position, he served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Chattahoochee Judicial circuit from February 1993 to April 2004. He served as an Assistant Public Defender for seven years (1985 to 1992) in Omaha, Nebraska with the Douglas County Public Defender’s Office.

Alonza is a servant in the community. He has received numerous awards including the 2016 NAACP Humanitarian award; 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Urban League of Greater Columbus, Inc., 2008 the 6th Annual Image award from the NAACP of Columbus, Georgia Branch and 2018 Living Legend Award from St. Mark AME Church. He has served in various leadership positions in the religious and civic community including but not limited to various boards and offices.

Alonza’s spirit to serve extends beyond the local community. He is a part of the Foreign Missionary Ministry, which is led by Dr. Geoffrey Guns of Norfolk, Virginia. In 2006 he along with his wife, Caponier and a team of others, from various states, went to Port Harcourt, Nigeria on his first foreign missionary trip. In 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 he and others served in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, respectively as Missionaries.

On February 26, 2023, he was appointed as a Recorder’s Court Judge.

He is married to the former Caponier Samuel, and they had three sons, Immanuel, Christopher (transitioned) and Aaron; One daughter in love, Meagan and three granddaughters, Ilyscia, Imani, and Ilaya Whitaker.

Judge Pro Tempore

Robert Wilson is a native of Columbus, Georgia. He graduated from Columbus High School, and then went on to attend Columbus College (now known as Columbus State University) where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He earned a M.S. in Criminal Justice from Troy State University.in 1983, and a Juris Doctorate from Woodrow Wilson College of Law, in 1986. He returned to Columbus, Georgia 1992, where he began the practice of law focusing on both civil and criminal litigation, of juveniles and adults.

Robert Wilson has served as Recorder’s Court Judge since February 2017.His previous judicial experience includes serving as Magistrate Judge from 2009-201, and Judge Pro Tempore for approximately 10 years in the Juvenile Court of Muscogee County.

Robert Wilson has been active in the local community, by serving the Columbus High School Board of Trustees, and the NeighborWorks Columbus Board of Directors.

In 2002, Robert Wilson received the Child Placement Conference Child Advocate of the Year Award, and in 2010, he received the Eleemosynary Pro Bono Award from the Columbus Bar Association. He is a founding member of the 100 Black Men of Columbus Georgia, Inc., where he served as past President from 2018-2019 and Treasurer from 2000-2016.

Robert Wilson is a member of Rose Hill Memorial Baptist Church, in Columbus, Georgia where he currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees. He has three adult children.

Judge Pro Tempore

Steve is a graduate of Mercer University School of Law and has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2005. He is a partner with Philips, Branch, Hodges, & Worstell. Steve was a former Columbus Police Department Sergeant and was with CPD for 14 years before going to law school.

Judge Pro Tempore

Shaun is a graduate of Mercer University School of Law and has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2011. He practices with Charles A. Gower, P.C. since 2015. His practice focuses on personal injury, commercial litigation, consumer and foreclosure litigation, business litigation. He was previously an Associate, with Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison & Norwood.

Judge Pro Tempore

Jennifer is a graduate of Georgia State University School of Law and has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2004. She is partner in Dunlap & Lakes P.C. where she handles real estate transactions, personal injury, among other legal matters. She is also the Executive director of A Second Chance Criminal Record Relief Non-Profit.
She has previously served as an Assistant District Attorney.