IN RECOGNITION OF KAREN BAYNES-DUNNING
April 2, 2020
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karen
Baynes-Dunning for her noteworthy work as a lawyer and former Juvenile
Court judge in the state of Georgia. Ms. Baynes-Dunning will be honored
at the 18th Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service
on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1998, the
Benham Awards have been presented to Georgia lawyers and judges in
recognition of their commitment to volunteerism and the positive
contributions to their communities.
Baynes-Dunning for her noteworthy work as a lawyer and former Juvenile
Court judge in the state of Georgia. Ms. Baynes-Dunning will be honored
at the 18th Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service
on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1998, the
Benham Awards have been presented to Georgia lawyers and judges in
recognition of their commitment to volunteerism and the positive
contributions to their communities.
Karen Baynes-Dunning earned a bachelor's degree in Politics from Wake
Forest University in 1989 and a juris doctorate degree from the
University of California at Berkeley in 1992. She began her legal
career as an associate at Alston & Bird in Atlanta. In 1996-1998, she
served in the Fulton County Juvenile Court as the first Executive
Director of the new Court Appointed Special Advocates program and then
as Director of Program Development. In 1998, she was appointed as an
Associate Judge in the Fulton County Juvenile Court.
Forest University in 1989 and a juris doctorate degree from the
University of California at Berkeley in 1992. She began her legal
career as an associate at Alston & Bird in Atlanta. In 1996-1998, she
served in the Fulton County Juvenile Court as the first Executive
Director of the new Court Appointed Special Advocates program and then
as Director of Program Development. In 1998, she was appointed as an
Associate Judge in the Fulton County Juvenile Court.
Following these legal roles, Ms. Baynes-Dunning became involved in
the world of academia. She served in the Carl Vinson Institute of
Government at the University of Georgia and was appointed as an
Associate Professor at the University of Alabama College of Human
Environmental Science. Drawing upon her experience with juveniles in
the court system, she was appointed in 2013 to lead the State Juvenile
Detention Alternatives Initiative, an Alabama statewide juvenile
justice reform effort. In Georgia, Ms. Baynes-Dunning now serves as
President of Baynes-Dunning Consulting and as one of two Federal
Monitors overseeing reform efforts in the Georgia Department of Family
and Children Services.
the world of academia. She served in the Carl Vinson Institute of
Government at the University of Georgia and was appointed as an
Associate Professor at the University of Alabama College of Human
Environmental Science. Drawing upon her experience with juveniles in
the court system, she was appointed in 2013 to lead the State Juvenile
Detention Alternatives Initiative, an Alabama statewide juvenile
justice reform effort. In Georgia, Ms. Baynes-Dunning now serves as
President of Baynes-Dunning Consulting and as one of two Federal
Monitors overseeing reform efforts in the Georgia Department of Family
and Children Services.
With a passion for improving the lives of children and young adults
in the court system, Ms. Baynes-Dunning has been a strong advocate for
juvenile justice reform. She served on the American Bar Association's
Project for Judicial Excellence in Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
and taught a juvenile justice course as a Visiting Clinical Professor
at Emory University School of Law.
in the court system, Ms. Baynes-Dunning has been a strong advocate for
juvenile justice reform. She served on the American Bar Association's
Project for Judicial Excellence in Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
and taught a juvenile justice course as a Visiting Clinical Professor
at Emory University School of Law.
Ms. Baynes-Dunning lives in Albany, Georgia, where her husband, Art
Dunning, serves as president of Albany State University. She is an
active member of many professional and civic organizations through
which she continuously devotes her time to bettering the community,
both in Albany and throughout the state of Georgia.
Dunning, serves as president of Albany State University. She is an
active member of many professional and civic organizations through
which she continuously devotes her time to bettering the community,
both in Albany and throughout the state of Georgia.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ``Life's most persistent and
urgent question is, `What are you doing for others?'' Karen Baynes-
Dunning undoubtedly lives by this philosophy. From her advocacy for
young people in court to her efforts to reform juvenile justice, her
work has made a tremendous impact on the lives of children and
families.
urgent question is, `What are you doing for others?'' Karen Baynes-
Dunning undoubtedly lives by this philosophy. From her advocacy for
young people in court to her efforts to reform juvenile justice, her
work has made a tremendous impact on the lives of children and
families.
Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian,
and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional
District in congratulating Karen Baynes-Dunning on receiving a well-
deserved Justice Robert Benham Award recognizing her commitment and
contributions to the community.
and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional
District in congratulating Karen Baynes-Dunning on receiving a well-
deserved Justice Robert Benham Award recognizing her commitment and
contributions to the community.