James Drane

Chief Magistrate Judge James Drane has served the citizens of Cherokee County for nearly ten years. Judge Drane also teaches in the Criminal Justice Department as an adjunct professor at Chattahoochee Technical College. Judge Drane teaches a variety of classes including: Constitutional Law, Ethics in Policing, Introduction to Criminal Law, and Criminal Law and Procedure. Since 2002, Judge Drane has been the recipient of Certificates of Commendation presented by the Georgia Supreme Court's Committee on Professionalism for teaching a seminar class on professionalism and ethics to first term law students. Before becoming a Magistrate Judge, Judge Drane was employed by the law firm of Flint & Connolly, LLP, in Canton.

Judge Drane is admitted to all of the various state courts here in Georgia as well as the United States Supreme Court, many different United States Federal Circuit Courts, and the United States Court of International Trade. Judge Drane is also admitted to several Military Courts including: the United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, the United States Court for the Armed Forces, and the United States Court of Appeals for Veteran's Claims. Judge Drane, his wife and children have lived in Cherokee County for 18 years. Judge Drane is active in many Cherokee County community and civic organization including: Rotary Club, South Cherokee Optimist Club, Cherokee County DUI-Drug Court Foundation, Inc. and various Masonic Lodges and their appendant bodies. In 2003, Judge Drane was the recipient of the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Work.