Imani J. Carter

Imani J. Carter is originally from New Castle, Pennsylvania. Carter received her Bachelor of Arts in criminology and investigations from West Virginia University. She relocated to Athens, Georgia, to pursue her Juris Doctor. Carter graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2015. During law school, she clerked for Justice Carla Wong McMillian with the Georgia Court of Appeals and did legal research for Dean Andrea Dennis. Carter was also a part of various student organizations, including the Black Law Students Association, the Public Interest Law Council and Athens Peer Court. Upon graduating with her J.D., Carter began her legal career as an assistant public defender at the Western Judicial Circuit Public Defender Office in Athens. Carter now serves as its Supervising Assistant Public Defender.

During her career as a criminal defense attorney, Carter has built and strengthened her litigation, trial and negotiation skills. She defends her clients from misdemeanor and felony charges and continues to represent them on appeals. Carter has an extensive amount of trial experience, totaling over 30 jury trials as lead counsel and dozens as second chair. She works zealously to be the voice for people who often feel their voices go unheard. Outside of work, she devotes her time to advocating for the community of Athens and supporting social and racial justice. Carter serves as Athens regional VP for the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) and area VP for Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL). She is a devoted member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Carter is a mentor for future lawyers through the School of Law’s Mentorship Program. In addition to mentoring law students, Carter regularly speaks on professional panels about various aspects of criminal law and her legal career, and she shares information with high school students about their opportunities after graduation. She attends Timothy Baptist Church and leads its Dance Ministry and its Young Adults Ministry. In her free time, Carter enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, working out, watching movies and hanging with her friends.