Overview
Clinton Keith Rucker is a national award-winning attorney, a Municipal Court Judge, and a former State of Georgia Assistant District Attorney of the Year. The once longtime acclaimed prosecutor is now with the prominent criminal defense and plaintiff’s trial lawyers firm, Garland Samuel & Loeb. Clinton retired from public service after 30 years as a Prosecutor in Fulton County and the City of Atlanta collectively. The former Executive Assistant District Attorney in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in Fulton County, Georgia retains a 98% trial success rate after trying over 150 cases. As a Defense Attorney, Clinton primarily specializes in cases involving Civil Rights violations and Criminal Defense. He is also a Judge Pro-Tem for the City of South Fulton, GA and an Associate Judge for the City of East Point, GA.
After obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Arts from Emory University, and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Clinton served as an intern for the U.S. Justice Department in Houston, Texas. Following his internship, Clinton immediately began his journey in the legal community as an attorney. He served as an Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Atlanta where he successfully handled probable cause hearings. After five years under the leadership of Atlanta Solicitor Raines Carter, Clinton began working for the late Fulton County District Attorney, Lewis Slaton as an Assistant District Attorney. After over 20 years of successful prosecutions, Clinton was promoted to Executive Assistant District Attorney serving directly under the Fulton County District Attorney. He has handled a number of complex and high-profile murder cases that have drawn national and international attention including, the State v. James Sullivan (Atlanta Socialite Lita Sullivan Murder Case), the State v. Dionne Baugh (Atlanta Businessman Lance Herndon Murder Case), the State v. Brian Nichols (Fulton County Courthouse Shooting Case), and the State v. Claude “Tex” McIver (Diane McIver Murder case).
Clinton has been named multiple times as Attorney of the Year for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. In 2018 he was awarded the State of Georgia Prosecuting Attorney’s Council’s Assistant District Attorney of the Year. He is a member of several professional and civic organizations including Leadership Atlanta, 100 Black Men of America, the Lamar Inn of Court-Emory University, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is also a proud board member of the Georgia Humanities.
In his spare time, the husband, father, man of faith and pretend golfer, enjoys playing fetch with his Saint Bernese named Jack McCoy, cooking for his family, and any puzzle over 2000 pieces.
Georgia, 1990
Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law
J.D
Emory University
B.A
Oxford College – Emory University
A.A
Atlanta Bar Association
National Black Prosecutors Association
Lamar Inn of Court at Emory University – Master
Lawyers Club of Atlanta
Gate City Bar Association
Leadership Atlanta Class of 2017 Candidate
100 Black Men of America – South Metro Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Atlanta Bar Association
Georgia Humanities Board Member
Fulton County District Attorney of the Year, 2005, 2010,2014, & 2016
Georgia House of Representatives Special Resolution, 2006
National District Attorney’s Association Award, 2007
Fulton County District Attorney’s Special Merit Award, 2013