Retired Justice Carol W. Hunstein
Member Emeritus, Board of Directors
Former Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia
Justice Carol W. Hunstein is a former justice on the Georgia Supreme Court. She was appointed to the court in November 1992 by Democratic Governor Zell Miller. Justice Hunstein was re-elected for additional six-year terms in 2000, 2006, and 2012. Her final term expired on December 31, 2018. Hunstein served as chief justice from 2009 to 2013, but took a two-month hiatus from May 29, 2012 through July 31, 2012, to allow retiring justice George Carley to briefly take the post. She is the second woman in history to serve as a permanent member of the Court.
Justice Hunstein received an Associate of Arts degree from Miami-Dade Junior College in 1970 and a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Atlantic University in 1972. Justice Hunstein received her Juris Doctor in 1976 from Stetson University College of Law and has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1976. She won election to the Superior Court of DeKalb County in 1984. Prior to serving on the bench, Justice Hunstein was in private practice.
As a superior court judge, Justice Hunstein was active at the county, state and national bar levels. She chaired many DeKalb County committees, including the Alimony and Support Unit Committee, the Diversion Center Committee, the Probation Committee and the Domestic Violence Task Force. In 1989 then-Chief Justice Marshall appointed her to Chair the Georgia Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System, which issued its report to the Supreme Court in 1991. She is a former district director of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) and chaired the local host committee for the NAWJ 1995 Annual Conference, which was held in Atlanta.
Justice Hunstein was the first woman to serve as President of the Council of Superior Court Judges. She was appointed by Governor Miller and, later, Governor Barnes, to chair the 1993, 1998 and 2001 state commissions on child support guidelines. She has served on the Advisory Board of the Justice Center of Atlanta and the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. She is a former Rosalynn Carter Honorary Fellow in Public Policy at the Emory University Institute on Women’s Studies.
Justice Hunstein currently serves as Chair of the Judicial Council of Georgia, the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism and the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. She is a member of the American Bar Association’s Public Perceptions Committee and the Bleckley Inn of Court.
In the course of her career, Justice Hunstein has received many honors including an honorary LL.D. from Stetson University College of Law (where she is also an honorary member of the Board of Overseers), a commendation for outstanding service from the Georgia General Assembly, the Emory University Legal Association for Women Students’ Public Service Award, the DeKalb County Women’s Network “Women Who Have Made a Difference” Award, the Joseph T. Tuggle Professionalism Award and, in 1999, the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession’s Margaret Brent Award. She received the Commitment to Equality Award from the State Bar of Georgia Committee on Women and Minorities in the Profession and the Leadership Award from the Atlanta Bar Association Florida Atlantic University has inducted her into their Hall of Fame.
Dr. Michael C. Markovitz
Member Emeritus, Board of Directors
Dr. Michael C. Markovitz is past-Chairman of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and past-Chairman of Argosy Education Group, Inc. He served in this capacity since his founding of that company in 1975. In 1999, Argosy became a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ, and was subsequently acquired in 2001.
Dr. Markovitz earned a B.S. (Honors) in Psychology from the City College of the City University of New York in 1971, and his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology from The University of Chicago in 1973 and 1975. Dr. Markovitz served on the Governing Board of Yorkville University in New Brunswick, Canada, was a director of Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, Florida), and was a member of the Visiting Committee to the Division of Social Sciences, University of Chicago.
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker
Member Emeritus, Board of Directors
On December 6, 2024, Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker concluded her final board meeting as a member of the Board of Directors for Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, marking the end of a decade of dedicated service. Throughout her tenure, Mrs. Perkins-Hooker made lasting contributions to the growth and success of AJMLS. We extend our deepest gratitude for her leadership, commitment, and invaluable service.
A Distinguished Career in Law and Service
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker is currently serving as the Interim City Attorney for Atlanta, Georgia. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing all legal matters for the city. Prior to this, she served as the County Attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, where she led a team of over 30 professionals, advising seven county commissioners and more than 40 departments. Mrs. Perkins-Hooker has also served as Vice President and General Counsel for the Atlanta BeltLine Inc. for six years and was the Administrative Partner at Johnson & Freeman, LLC, where she rejoined after her time with Fulton County.
She has an extensive background in private practice, having served as a partner at Hollowell, Foster & Gepp, PC, where she oversaw the Commercial Real Estate Group. Additionally, she was the Managing Partner of Johnson, Freeman & Perkins-Hooker and owned her own law firm for over a decade.
Leadership Beyond the Boardroom
Mrs. Perkins-Hooker has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, both in the legal field and within her community. She made history as the 52nd President of the State Bar of Georgia, becoming the first person of color to hold this prestigious position. She has held numerous leadership roles, including serving on the Board of Governors and as a member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar.
Her leadership extends to many other organizations. She has chaired the City of Atlanta’s Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Emory Business School Alumni Association. She currently serves as the Chair of the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless Board and has also served as chair of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar.
A Legacy of Excellence and Community Engagement
Mrs. Perkins-Hooker has received numerous accolades for her outstanding service to the legal profession and her commitment to public service. These include induction into the Gate City Bar Association’s Hall of Fame, the Leah Ward Sears Service to the Profession Award from the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, an honorary degree from AJMLS, and the Eleonoré Raoul Greene Trailblazer Award from Emory University Law School.
Her contributions have also earned her recognition such as the George A. Pindar Award for Lifetime Service to the Real Property Profession, and the Randolph Thrower Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Bar of Georgia’s Commitment to Equality Committee. She was named one of the 500 Most Powerful Leaders in Atlanta’s Government and Politics arena by Atlanta Magazine (2021-2024) and recognized for running one of Georgia’s top in-house law firms by the Fulton County Daily Report in 2019.
Looking Ahead
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker’s career is marked by a legacy of excellence, leadership, and commitment to service. AJMLS is deeply grateful for her contributions over the past decade and wishes her continued success in all her future endeavors.
Mrs. Perkins-Hooker is happily married to Douglas R. Hooker, and they are the proud parents of two children, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.