Gina Bernard was appointed Circuit Public Defender for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit on December 18, 2023. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Bernard served as the Managing Attorney for the East Metro Regional Alternate Public Defender.

Ms. Bernard graduated from Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL with a B. Sc in Hospitality Administration, and from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA with a B.A. in Finance.  She graduated from Georgia State University College of Law in 1997.

Ms. Bernard served as a prosecutor in the City of Atlanta Solicitor’s Office, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office & the DeKalb County Solicitor’s office.  She spent six years in private practice before joining the Georgia Public Defender Council in July of 2011.

She has prosecuted and defended numerous cases ranging from City Ordinance violations to major felonies such as Murders & Armed Robbery cases.

Ms. Bernard has two adult children, both of whom are currently attending college.