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THE BERNES RECORD – Experience That Matters
Making a difference
Throughout her career, Debra has handled cases that made a difference in Georgia law. For instance,
– Debra wrote the brief that made DNA evidence admissible in criminal cases in Georgia. Caldwell v. State, 260 Ga. 278 (1990). Only one other state's appellate court had admitted such evidence at the time.
– Debra fought to uphold the constitutionality of the state’s stalking laws and won!
Johnson v. State, 264 Ga. 590 (1994).
– Debra fought to strike down the year and a day rule, an ancient rule that prevented a murder prosecution if the victim did not die within year and a day from the time injuries were inflicted and won. Cross v. State, 260 Ga. 845 (1991). In Cross, a father who had murdered his infant son used his rights as a parent to artificially prolong his son’s life for over a year in an effort to avoid being prosecuted for murder. After Debra won in the Georgia Supreme Court, the father was prosecuted.
Professional Experience
• Graduated with honors with a Bachelors Degree in Education from the University of Florida in 1976. Phi Kappa Phi. Mortar Board.
• Graduated from the University of Florida School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 1978. Phi Delta Phi.
• Completed undergraduate and law school studies in just over 5 years.
• Admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1979. Also admitted to the Bar of the
• Georgia Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of Georgia, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
• From 1979 to 1999, Debra served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Cobb Judicial Circuit concentrating in felony prosecutions and appellate law.
• Since 2000, Debra has operated her own private practice, Debra Halpern Bernes, P.C., and has served in an of counsel capacity to the law firm of Bentley, Bentley, & Bentley.
• In private practice, Debra has represented clients in civil and criminal cases. She has handled a wide array of legal matters for clients including criminal and civil defense, business disputes, municipal and county government issues, and zoning and personnel issues.
• Debra Bernes has authored or co-authored over 400 appellate briefs and argued more than 50 cases in the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals.
• Authored case law update materials for Cobb County Police Department (1998).
• Frequent instructor at North Georgia Police Academy (1979-1999).
• Faculty and instructor for National District Attorneys’ Association Appellate Advocacy Seminar (1999)
• Speaker for Prosecution Attorney’s Council of Georgia, Case Law Update and Selected Evidentiary Issues. (1990, 1998).
• Special award by the Marietta Police Department in recognition of service as legal advisor for a "Sting" operation that resulted in the recovery of a large quantity of stolen goods (1979
Active In Her Community
• Awarded the Kiwanis of Marietta Distinguished Service Award (1997).
• Appointed to the Cobb 2000 Commission, a legislatively created commission formed to assess Cobb County's needs for the year 2000 (1991).
• Current member of the Kiwanis of Marietta, and current co-chair of its Community Service Committee.
• Former member of the Community Service Committee of her son’s school.
• Former member of the Cobb-Marietta Junior League, Willow Point Service League and East Cobb Jaycees.
• Supporter and participant of Kids Voting Cobb, a project that hopes to ultimately increase voter participation by starting with elementary school students.
• Volunteer for local woman’s shelter
Committed to the Legal Community
• State Bar of Georgia
• Secretary, Appellate Section (2003-2004)
• Appellate Practices Committee, Appellate Section (2002)
• Suggestion Box Committee, Appellate Section (2002)
• State Bar Law Day Committee (1981)
• Cobb County Bar Association
• President (2003-2004)
• Treasurer (2000-2001) (2001-2002)
• Secretary (1998-1999)
• Chaplain (1997-1998)
• Chair, Community Service Fund (2002-2003)
• Co-Chair, Appellate Practice Seminar (2001)
• Chair, Ad hoc Committee to Review Procedures of Cobb County Circuit
Defender (2001)
• Co-Chair, Bench and Bar Committee (2000-2001)
• Chair, Continuing Legal Education (1999-2000)
• Programming Committee (1999-2000)
• Chair, Public Service Committee (1998-1999)
• Law Day Committee (1997)
• Georgia Association of Women Lawyers
• Fellow, Lawyers Foundation of Georgia
• Cobb Justice Foundation (Board member 2003-2004)
• Lawyers Club of Atlanta
• Speaker on Appellate Practice for Local Government Law Section, State Bar of Georgia (2002)
• Speaker on Appellate Practice for Appellate Section, State Bar of Georgia (2003)
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