Amanda Grantham, chief public defender for Georgia's Northern Judicial Circuit, has spent 18 years championing justice and holding everyone to the same standards in rural communities with unique legal challenges.
Amanda Grantham, chief public defender for Georgia’s Northern Judicial Circuit, reviews case files at a Starbucks in Athens, Ga., on Aug. 23, 2025. After a full day in court, she works into the evening, consulting “The Code” and the U.S. Constitution to prepare for her clients’ upcoming hearings. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo))
Amanda Grantham, chief public defender for Georgia’s Northern Judicial Circuit, likes to challenge the rule makers.
“I always question the authority, like, who’s making the rules,” she said. “And, what’s the purpose behind it?”
This philosophy drives Grantham’s practice of law in the Northern Judicial Circuit, where she oversees defense for residents who financially qualify for a public defender.
Grantham, who has been chief public defender for five years, manages a staff of eight attorneys in the circuit, which is made up of Hart, Franklin, Madison, Elbert and Oglethorpe counties. Typically, one attorney is assigned to each county, and in Oglethorpe County, that is Katie McMichael.
Grantham describes McMichael as a “criminal defense expert,” tipping a hat to her 15 years of legal practice in Oglethorpe County.
Oglethorpe County has a crime rate of 0.06% per every 1,000 individuals, according to 2023 data. According to Grantham, traffic violations and simple drug possession make up the majority of that percentage.
Yet, it is serious traffic offenses — like fleeing law enforcement — that Grantham and her staff see the most.
“These are the car chases you hear about,” Grantham said. “And, a lot of times, they start in Athens and then come over to Oglethorpe, or vice versa, but it’s bananas.”
Raised in the law
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Grantham comes from a family rooted in public service. Her father and siblings are attorneys, and her mother is a nurse. Public defenders usually start with law school and some criminal law experience, then join a judicial circuit based on their skills and commitment to public service.
Following a traditional route, Grantham attended the University of Pittsburgh for both her undergraduate and law degrees. After graduating a semester early, she worked at her father’s law firm before sitting for the Georgia Bar Exam. She then moved to Atlanta to begin her career as a public defender.
Soon after, she joined the state’s Public Defender Honors Program, a rigorous training initiative for career defenders. The experience provided her with hands-on skills and prepared her for work across the state, eventually bringing her to Oglethorpe County.
She has “always, always, always” wanted to be a public defender, and her 18 years in the field have fostered her passion for justice.
Following the rules
Grantham and McMichael both work with cases in the county, although Grantham’s role is more focused on managing cases around the circuit. Even with fewer cases in Oglethorpe than in neighboring counties, Grantham said the stakes are always high.
“The Constitution’s not a technicality, and it applies to everyone, and not just citizens,” Grantham said.
Residents who don’t qualify for a public defender often hire a private practice lawyer, though financial status is only a small factor. Grantham said eligibility for a public defender also depends on annual household income, household size and whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor.
Oglethorpe County native and general law practice attorney Dennis Helmreich said many clients mistakenly think they need a lawyer from a larger city.
“Sometimes people in smaller communities think, ‘I'm going to go to Athens, get me a real lawyer, someone that really is good at what they do,’ ” Helmreich said.
He added that a “kind of camaraderie” exists between local attorneys and residents that allows him to service the county with greater empathy.
The sense of camaraderie is something Grantham also emphasizes. In a small community, maintaining professionalism is especially important.
“You really anger somebody or tick them off — you have other clients,” Grantham said. “So that’s a challenge: to advocate all the way for your client, but also maintain a professional work environment.”
For Grantham, public defense is a calling and a responsibility. It requires holding everyone — from law enforcement to courts — to the same standards.
“The rule of law matters. The police have rules. Presidents have rules. Courts have rules,” Grantham said. “I’m getting more passionate about what we do because I think rules matter.”