Under the direction of the Solicitor-General, Robert D. James, Jr., the DeKalb County Solicitor-General's Office prosecutes criminal misdemeanor offenses filed in the State Court of DeKalb County. Robert is responsible for supervising and training a staff of 25 attorneys and 50 support personnel. His first-term successes include partnering with seven other agencies to create VALARI, a multidisciplinary team to prevent elder and disabled adult abuse; reinstating the Domestic Violence Pre-Trial Diversion Program; creating Project Perfect Attendance-a comprehensive truancy intervention campaign in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, DeKalb County School System, DeKalb Juvenile Court and DeKalb Police Department. In 2008, James launched the Jobs Not Jail- a year-long initiative providing first-time offenders with an opportunity to complete their education, participate in job/life skills training and provide job placement.
Since being elected in 2007, Robert has made tremendous strides in redefining the Solicitor-General's Office through innovative and unique programs such as Jobs Not Jail and Project Perfect Attendance. The Jobs Not Jail program successfully graduated its inaugural class in 2009 and anticipates more than 200 program participants in 2010. Additionally, Project Perfect Attendance has drastically reduced truancy numbers in DeKalb County Schools- creating a national model of success in combating educational neglect.
Each year, Robert's office prosecutes nearly 13,000 criminal misdemeanor cases including: domestic violence, vehicular homicide, animal cruelty, educational neglect and more.
Prior to becoming elected DeKalb County Solicitor-General, Robert served as an assistant district attorney supervising the prosecution of all misdemeanor cases in Rockdale County, Georgia and then later, a special prosecutor with the DeKalb County District Attorney's Crimes Against Children Unit. As a member of this specialized unit, Robert spent countless hours working to protect DeKalb County children from dangerous child abusers and sexual predators.
Robert is a well-respected member of the legal profession and has been recognized for his talents by Georgia Trend Magazine by being named one of the State's "40 Under 40"- a distinguished listing of Georgia's top corporate and political leaders under 40 years old. Robert is president-elect of the Georgia Association of Solicitor-Generals, served as president of the DeKalb Lawyer's Association from 2006-2007 and is on the board of the DeKalb Bar Association. He has also served as a guest instructor at the Georgia Police Academy and Prosecuting Attorneys' Council.
Robert is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and was a member of the University's Basketball Team and President of the African-American Student Association. After graduation, Robert moved to Atlanta where he earned a Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University College of Law.
During law school, Robert and three other graduate students formed literacy, after school and summer camp programs in inner-city Atlanta neighborhoods. He also worked as a Deputy Voter Registrar in Fulton County, where he registered hundreds of voters for the 1996 presidential election.
Presently, Robert volunteers with various organizations in DeKalb County. Robert serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for K.E.S. DAY, a non-profit organization serving the needs of disabled citizens and serves on the Board of Directors for City of Hope Ministries, Inc., which provides healthcare and housing to low-income families in the greater Atlanta area.
Robert is a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is the son of Rev. Robert D. James, Sr., a minister, assistant high school principal and retired NFL football player, and Barbara James, a retired educator. Robert has one sister, Andrea Stephens, and is the proud father of one daughter, Brookelyn M. James.
Robert is a member of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, where Reverend Cynthia L. Hale is pastor.