Atlanta Judge Pioneers Competency Docket to Aid Severely Mentally Ill Defendants and Streamline Justice Process

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Judge Shukura Ingram oversees approximately 250 cases involving defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial, in addition to her regular duties as a superior court judge. In 2023, Ingram and her colleagues in Fulton County implemented a "competency docket" to streamline the handling of felony cases involving severely mentally ill defendants, aiming to connect them with necessary treatment and expedite case resolutions. The initiative addresses systemic issues related to mental health and homelessness, with Ingram emphasizing the importance of timely intervention to prevent deterioration of defendants' conditions while they await trial.