Julie Mitcham

Julie Mitcham serves as a guardian ad litem, a neutral party, appointed by the Court to assist with determining the best interests of a child and/or individual. She is available to serve attorneys and the court systems of South Georgia.

Employed as a Volunteer Supervisor with the child advocacy non-profit organization, Coastal Plain CASA, Inc., as she managed volunteer child advocates who were appointed as a guardian ad litem for children. While employed at Coastal Plain CASA, Julie was routinely appointed by Juvenile Court Judge Render Heard to serve as a CASA/guardian ad litem for children placed in foster care in dependency cases pending before the court. She recommended what was in their best interest and assisted with exploring options for the best permanency for those children. Following her time at Coastal Plain CASA, Inc., Julie was a paralegal for a law firm which focused on custody and divorce matters.

On April 6, 2016, Judge Render Heard administered an oath, formally appointing Julie as an officer of the court. This affirmation underscored her understanding of the responsibilities associated with cases before the Juvenile Courts of the Tifton Judicial Circuit. Committed to the fulfilling these duties to the best of her skill, knowledge, and ability, she solemnly vowed to respect the privacy of all parties involved, maintain confidentiality regarding all court-related matters, and advocate in good faith for the best interests of each child.

In June 2016, she completed the Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer Training Curriculum with Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. Additionally, she participated in the Alliance for Children South Georgia, a multi-disciplinary training summit in the prevention of child maltreatment and abuse in April 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. On April 19, 2021, she finished the Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children training, a program approved by the National Association of Social Workers. She is also a Mandated Reporter, trained in recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse.

Completed Victim Assistance Training includes the following:

• Campus/University Victims of Sexual Assault

• Conflict Management and Negotiation

• Crisis Intervention

• Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Hate and Bias Crimes

• Human Trafficking

• Incarcerated Victims of Sexual Violence

• Intimate Partner Violence

• People with Disabilities

• Sexual Assault

• Stalking

• Teen Relationship Abuse

• Terrorism and Mass Violence

• Trauma-Informed Care

• Victims with Mental Health Issues

• Victims with Substance Abuse Issues

Notary Public since March 6, 2023.

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