After 31 years with the DeKalb County Magistrate Court, Judge Alan C. Harvey retired as of December 31, 2016. For 25 of those years, he served as a part-time judge while maintaining a full-time law practice. For the last six years he served full-time overseeing the court’s criminal division. Throughout his career, he also regularly sat in State and Superior Courts by designation. Since January 1, 2017, he has served exclusively in Superior Court as a Senior Magistrate Judge, presiding over a wide range of family law, civil and criminal cases.

In 2023 Judge Harvey was appointed to temporary Division 11 of the Superior Court of DeKalb County to assist with the post-pandemic backlog. That year alone, he presided over 23 contested domestic relations cases, 2 murder trials, and numerous felony jury trials. He also heard and decided approximately 30 contested family violence protective order matters.

Judge Harvey received his B.A. in political science from Furman University in 1973 and earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 1977. From 1977 to 2010, he practiced law in Decatur, Georgia, handling divorce, personal injury, wills, and estate matters.

He has held key leadership positions in Georgia’s judiciary, including:

• President, Georgia Council of Magistrate Court Judges (GCMCJ) (2012–2013)

• Immediate Past President (2013–2014)

• Executive Committee Member (2014–2016)

• Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award from GCMCJ (2017)

Judge Harvey is a registered neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. He is also a member of the following State Bar of Georgia sections:

• Family Law

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

• General Practice and Trial Law

• Judicial Section

Why Choose Judge Harvey for Mediation or Arbitration?

Judge Harvey’s extensive experience—spanning family law, civil litigation, and serious criminal matters—gives him a unique ability to understand the dynamics of a case and the pressures facing parties in conflict. His calm demeanor, legal acumen, and practical judgment have earned the respect of both litigants and attorneys.

He joins Flink ADR with deep knowledge, judicial perspective, and commitment to fairness, and looks forward to working in a setting that allows parties to resolve disputes more efficiently, cost-effectively, and with greater control over the outcome.

Whether your case involves family law, business litigation, personal injury, or another civil dispute, Judge Harvey provides a steady, experienced hand to guide parties toward resolution without the burden of prolonged courtroom litigation.