Sam Barth
Mr. Barth completed his undergrad education at Augusta State University. During his time there, he was a member of the Augusta State University baseball team, where he was a three-time team captain, a two-time Male Student-Athlete of the Year award winner, and also set a NCAA record for a 47-game hitting streak. He was elected Student Body President and received the Senior Service Leadership Award, recognizing outstanding service to the university and the community. Following his time at Augusta State, he played professional baseball in Europe. Mr. Barth attended law school at Michigan State University and graduated in the top 10% of his class. He was also a member of the school’s arbitration and negotiation teams, and played on the school’s club ice hockey team.
Upon graduating, Mr. Barth had the privilege to work as a law clerk for The Honorable John M. Ott, Chief Superior Court Judge for the Alcovy Judicial Circuit (Walton and Newton counties). While working for Judge Ott, he gained valuable experience handling domestic relations cases, which included divorce, child custody, child support, and adoptions. After his clerkship, he accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit. During his time with the Walton County District Attorney’s Office, he prosecuted over 600 felony and misdemeanor cases and had numerous jury trials, obtaining convictions including murder, child molestation, and aggravated assault.
In January 2015, Mr. Barth joined Hanks, Ballard & Barth as an associate practicing primarily in the realm of domestic relations and criminal defense. He became one of our firm’s partners in 2020.
In July 2016, Mr. Barth was appointed Associate Magistrate Judge of Oconee County and was one of the youngest serving Judges in the State of Georgia. Following the completion of his initial term in December 2016, he was reappointed to serve Oconee County for another four-year term. In September 2017, Mr. Barth was hired by the City of Walnut Grove in Walton County, Georgia to be its Chief Municipal Court Judge.
Mr. Barth is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States District Court of the Northern District of Georgia, United States District Court of the Middle District of Georgia, Supreme Court of Georgia, and the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Mr. Barth was born in South Carolina and moved to Watkinsville, Georgia in 1997. He is married with three children and a golden retriever and enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and watching his children play any sport with a ball.
Areas of Practice:
Criminal Defense
DUI
Personal Injury
Family Law
Wills, Trusts and Estates
General Litigation
Child Abuse Registry Appeals
Bar Admissions:
State of Georgia, 2010
Supreme Court of the State of Georgia
Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia and United States Supreme Court
Education:
Juris Doctor, Michigan State University College of Law
Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, Augusta State University
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Alcovy Circuit Bar Association
Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National College for DUI Defense
Western Circuit Bar Association
