Meet Ken Mauldin
Ken Mauldin is seeking a second term as District Attorney of the Western Judicial Circuit, covering Oconee and Athens-Clarke Counties. He has been a practicing attorney here for more than 24 years. Before his current position, he served 10 years as Solicitor-General of Athens-Clarke County, the prosecuting attorney for misdemeanors. For the 10 years prior, Ken served in Oconee and Athens-Clarke Counties as an Assistant District Attorney from 1980-88, and then as a public defender with the Legal Aid Clinic. In 1987 he was the recipient of the “Assistant District Attorney of the Year” Award for the state given by the District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia. Since 1990, Ken has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, teaching a course in Trial Practice two semesters a year.
Ken received both his bachelor and law degrees from the University of Georgia; A.B. in Political Science in 1977, graduating Magna Cum Laude and selected Phi Beta Kappa, and J.D. in 1980. Subsequently, he earned an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Litigation degree from Emory Law School in 1989.
Ken has been a resident of the Western Circuit for 30 years. He is married to Alley Mauldin and they have three children, Grace, 5; Nick, 2; and Jake, 1.
Ken has been an active member of Athens First United Methodist Church. He is currently its Lay Leader, serves on the Church Council and teaches a youth Sunday school class, which he began teaching twenty-five years ago during law school. He is a graduate of Leadership Athens and for 10 years he was a member of the Youth Leadership Athens Steering Committee, serving as Chair for two years. He is a Charter member of the University Optimist Club and a Life member the Evening Optimist Club of Athens, receiving the “Optimist of the Year” Award in 1999 and earning the rank of Distinguished President in 1993-94. He has been an attorney-coach for the Clarke Central High School Mock Trial team since 1989, leading the team to three State Championships and one National Championship. He currently teaches a law related education class at Clarke Central. In 1991 he was the recipient of the “ Arch Award for Youth Development” given by the UGA alumni society.
Ken is and has been actively involved with a number of other community groups, particularly those focusing on the issues of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. He is a member of the District Attorney’s Association of Georgia, served as President of the Solicitors’ Association and Vice-Chair of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC). For 18 years, he has been an instructor for PAC sponsored courses and since 1983 has been P.O.S.T. certified instructor for local law enforcement agencies, providing thousands of hours of instruction in the areas of Trial Advocacy, Criminal Law & Procedure, Domestic Violence and Ethics & Professionalism.
As District Attorney, Ken has done the job he was elected to do, overcoming significant challenges at the beginning of his term (a large backlog of cases, a lack of transition from the former administration and the hiring of a staff of 25 persons). Cases involving child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse became a priority. A Special Victims Unit (SVU) was established within the office to handle these cases, funded through a federal grant award amounting to almost $500,000 over 5 years. A collaborative effort between the DA’s Office and affected community and police agencies was initiated. As a result, the rate of successful prosecution and disposition of SVU cases has more than doubled.
Further, the prosecution of serious violent felonies also became a priority. Murder cases and certain other cases are being handled by the District Attorney personally. The Victim Assistance Program was expanded and a Pretrial Diversion Program established. While more cases are being prosecuted than before, the backlog of cases no longer exists. Lastly, the Oconee County office became staffed full-time for the first time in the history of the Western Circuit.
As District Attorney, Ken brings to the Job his experience and background, his twenty-five years of public service and his long-term commitment to the community. He can be contacted at 613-5575 or at ken@kenmauldin.com.
