Matthew Leipold - Gainesville, GA

Matt Leipold started working at the Hall County Public Defender's Office in August 2013. He immediately began representing clients accused of felonies in Hall and Dawson Counties. Within one year, he had tried six cases to juries, won several DUIs, and argued dozens of motions and probation revocations. Within three years of practicing law, Matt had obtained numerous acquittals in major felony trials, including malice murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault.

Matt continued to provide zealous representation to his clients, and continued to obtain acquittals in the most serious cases, including child molestation and various violent felonies. He continued to file motions at a high rate, in particular focusing on motions to suppress for clients who were aggrieved by unlawful searches. As his reputation for high level representation increased, Matt was asked to train new public defenders and speak to experienced lawyers about motions practice and trial practice.

In 2022, the Northeastern Judicial Circuit received a federal grant to hire an additional judge to help clear the post-COVID backlog of cases. The Superior Court judges offered Matt the job, and he gladly accepted and immediately got to work. He presided over dozens, if not hundreds, of civil hearings; civil jury trials; a criminal jury trial; appeals from lower courts to Superior Court; and Juvenile Court.

Matt has returned to the practice of criminal defense with all of the additional knowledge and wisdom that comes from being a judge for two years. He takes the time to help his clients navigate their way through a process that is difficult, frightening, and often overwhelming. He takes pride in providing the best defense possible for all of his clients, and he is humbled and grateful that people accused of crimes are willing to place their trust in him.