John Melvin

Background

About John Melvin

I currently serve as Managing District Attorney in the metro-Atlanta area drawing on over 25 years experience in that field. Prior to this, I served for 5 years as second-in-command of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. During my prosecutorial career, I was blessed to serve as Assistant DA, Deputy Chief, Chief Assistant and finally as the Acting District Attorney of Cobb County, Georgia ~ a jurisdiction of more than residents. During those years, I tried more than 180 felony trials to include capital murder, major felonies, and multiple RICO trials, as well as the largest Elder Financial Abuse case in Georgia history - State v. Jeffrey Carr - which involved the theft of more than $12 million dollars. I stepped away from prosecution in 2018 to become the Chief of Staff at the GBI. Shortly thereafter I was appointed Assistant Director and then Executive Director. In those roles, I established agency policies; provided guidance and direction to all agents and staff; and managed the GBI's $135 million budget. In concert with the Director, I provided leadership, communication, and coordination with the Governor, the Georgia Attorney General, the Georgia General Assembly, United States Congress, United States Attorneys, the FBI, District Attorneys, Sheriffs, Municipal Police Departments, other criminal justice agencies, and the private sector. In addition to providing primary executive management for the four divisions of the Bureau - Investigations, Forensic Science, Legal, and the Georgia Crime and Information Center- I directly managed the Administrative section to include Finance, Staff Services, Human Resources, and the Office of Professional Standards. Since 2007, I have been an Adjunct Professor of Law and have taught Advanced Trial Practice, Advanced Evidence, and Criminal Motions Practice. I am currently serving at Atlanta John Marshall Law School. Prior to that I taught 4 years as an Emory Law School. Finally, I am the author of “Georgia Objections at Trial 2nd Ed.” Specialties: Litigation, appellate advocacy, RICO prosecutions.