Chief Magistrate Judge Brendan F. Murphy has made two new appointments to the Cobb Magistrate bench, selecting Natalie Ward and Christopher Yarbrough as part-time Magistrate judges. As reported by Cobb County News, the appointments followed an open application and interview process that drew from a pool of well-qualified candidates. Reflecting on his choices, Judge Murphy said, "Excellent attorneys with respect for the law, common sense, and judicial temperaments, Natalie and Chris bring decades of private sector experience to the Magistrate Court."
According to Cobb County News , Ward and Yarbrough have shown a "shared commitment to our core value of community service" through volunteering at the People’s Court Pop-up Legal Clinic. Cobb's Magistrate Court is dubbed the People’s Court and operates non-stop throughout the year, dealing with a wide-range of criminal and civil matters. The court's team of 90 is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring public safety while upholding the Constitutional rights of the accused.
Natalie Ward's history in the law field is complemented by a background in nursing and over 20 years in legal and healthcare sectors. She's known for her work as intellectual property and corporate counsel, and has worked with Fortune 500 companies and healthcare technology companies. Her experiences extend to advising C-suite executives, and she's also lent her expertise to complex corporate transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. Cobb County News further details Ward's active participation in the Junior League of Atlanta and her membership with the Cobb County Bar Association, as well as her personal commitment to various sports activities of her children in Powder Springs.
Georgia native Christopher Yarbrough, with law practice roots in the Metropolitan Atlanta area since 2009, carries a résumé that includes civil litigation, landlord-tenant matters, and creditors' rights. His academic role encompasses serving as an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Kennesaw State University. He balances his professional life with community service, volunteering with the Georgia High School Mock Trial program. Yarbrough's personal life is shared with his husband in Smyrna, noted Cobb County News.
