For Immediate Release

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Brian Fortner Named 2009 Solicitor-General of the Year  

The Georgia Association of Solicitors-General has selected Brian Fortner, Solicitor-General of Douglas County, as the 2009 Solicitor-General of the Year. The announcement was made on Monday, July 27, 2009.

“It is always an honor to be recognized by your peers,” said Fortner. “There are so many prosecutors across this state who are worthy of this award. They continue to serve the citizens despite tremendous budget cuts and personal sacrifices. I am proud to be a Georgia prosecutor.”

Fortner, a native of Atlanta, attended law school at Georgia State University.  He moved to Douglasville about 12 years ago. He worked for seven years as an assistant district attorney for District Attorney David McDade. He was then appointed solicitor-general of Douglas County in May of 2007. As solicitor-general, he runs the office that prosecutes all misdemeanor crimes in Douglas County.  Fortner also serves as the president of the Georgia Association of Solicitors-General.

Fortner was nominated for Solicitor-General of the Year by Douglas County Assistant Solicitor-General Deah Warren.

 “Brian Fortner has wasted no time in making sure his small office makes a big impact,” began Warren in her nomination letter. “Holding the office of Solicitor-General for just two years, he has hit the ground running in establishing himself as an agent of change, both in our office and the surrounding community. He works tirelessly for the causes that he believes in and does not hesitate to step in when others may sit back and complain.”

Fortner’s ability to lead by example and inspire creative thinking has earned him tremendous respect among his employees.

“Everyone in our office loves having Brian as our boss,” read the nomination letter. “He brings a common-sense approach to running the office, which in turn motivates and inspires each of us to perform to the top of our abilities. With misdemeanor and traffic caseloads topping 16,000 and only four prosecutors to work them, it takes a special person to encourage us not to give up.  Brian does that and more. He has a true open-door policy with no issue too trivial to gain his full, undivided attention. This is not limited to the office...he always says, ‘I’m 24/7.’ And trust me; we take full advantage of it. Brian takes care to mentor and educate his young prosecutors. We debate concepts, interpretations of the law and points of view concerning facts in cases. Despite having a great deal more knowledge and experience in prosecution, Brian always respects and appreciates fresh ideas and the ability to think independently. Words cannot fully capture how appreciative we are for the office environment he has created.”

With his practical approach to solving problems, Fortner’s influence extends far beyond the employees in his office. “It is not uncommon for his former colleagues in the district attorney’s office to seek his counsel on a wide range of legal issues, or in achieving work-life balance,” read the nomination letter. “Brian goes to bat for members of prosecution across the state of Georgia. If one of his fellow solicitors needs assistance or even just a fresh perspective on a particular case, Brian is always available to lend an ear or a voice.”  

It is that commitment to his fellow prosecutor that led Fortner to serve as the president of the Georgia Association of Solicitors-General (GASG) for the July 2009-July 2010 term.

 “Brian immediately seized the opportunity to serve as president of the GASG,” read the nomination letter. “And in his two years as Solicitor-General, Brian has come to represent the association on a number of legislative issues currently before the Georgia legislature. When there was a need for a prosecutor’s voice on the evidence code revision, Brian got involved. He worked tirelessly on each section of the code, served on committees, and also researched and edited issues on his own.  He spent countless days at the Capitol, ensuring that the evidence code was legally sound and fair.”

Fortner has spent his entire legal career serving the citizens of Douglas County. Having prosecuted both major felonies and misdemeanors, Brian saw a need to reach out to the youth in Douglas County as a means of crime prevention. “In September of 2008, Brian created Project A.B.L.E. (Adult Based Legal Education) to teach Douglas County 9th graders about various aspects of the law and how it impacts their lives,” continued the nomination letter. “His goal is to offer guidance on avoiding a life of crime and staying out of the probation, jail and prison systems. He makes several presentations at each of the county high schools and meets with community leaders on how to effectively reach that age group. His goal is to equip teens with the basic legal knowledge to help them make better decisions about their behavior. His motto is “Don’t Put Your Life in Someone Else’s Hands.”

Fortner’s steadfast commitment to the people of Douglas County means not only protecting each citizen from crime but also protecting their tax dollars and using them in the most responsible manner possible. For this reason, Fortner created the Pretrial Intervention and Diversion Program (PTD) in Douglas County.

“The program allows us to help worthy defendants get their lives in order and get back on track,” said Fortner. “We enter a contract with certain defendants. The terms of the contract require them to pay a fee, serve their community and obtain necessary treatment. If they complete these requirements in a satisfactory manner, then we will dismiss their charges and end their case.”

“Where Brian sees a need, he steps in to make a way,” read the nomination letter. “Our PTD program was designed to help participants reduce the risk of future problems with law enforcement and to become more productive citizens all while serving people of Douglas County. This has helped us extend Brian’s common-sense office approach to the community in order to serve the greater interests of maintaining good order and peace with productive, upstanding citizens.”

In an effort to keep Georgia’s legal system staffed with well-trained public servants, Fortner has carried his passion for prosecution to aspiring attorneys across the state.

“When former Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Tom Jones asked Brian to help him mold law students into litigators, Brian became a mock trial coach,” the nomination letter explained. This commitment required countless hours on Saturdays and Sundays, along with traveling with the teams across the country.”

            In accepting the award, Fortner said, “I would like to thank my District Attorney David McDade who played a major role in my training as a prosecutor. He continues to support me in my role as Solicitor-General. I would also like to thank my attorneys Evelyn Sandefur, Matt Krull, Deah Warren, and Kate Iannuzzi who work tirelessly prosecuting cases. They maintain a strong presence in the courtroom and that allows me to handle the other business of the office.”