Meet the Team
District Attorney:
Patsy Austin-Gatson
DistrictAttorney@GwinnettCounty.com
District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson is committed to the excellence of Gwinnett County. Her core values for prosecution are justice and fairness. She made a commitment to work with Gwinnett residents and stakeholders to bring positive progressive change. Paramount to her vision are the safety of Gwinnett, second chances, protecting victims, and keeping young people from entering the criminal justice system. She will also hold those who commit crimes accountable.
D.A. Austin-Gatson is proud to be a history maker, as the first African American and woman to ever be elected to the District Attorney’s Office, Gwinnett Judicial Circuit and she hopes that this will inspire the next generation of young people.
D.A. Austin-Gatson started her legal career with the Attorney General’s Office of Georgia and then became a law firm associate. In 1992, she opened her law firm, Austin & Associates, and handled criminal, family, and civil rights employment cases. Prior to her election, she was Supervising Attorney in the Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office.
D.A. Austin-Gatson graduated from Emory University, School of Law, and received a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University, School of Human Development. She is admitted to practice in all Georgia Superior and State Courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court. She is also admitted to the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and Federal Courts in the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts. D.A. Austin-Gatson has served in multiple capacities as a volunteer. She has practiced law for thirty-five years.
D.A. Austin-Gatson has been a Gwinnett County resident for twenty-six years where she and her husband, Travis Gatson, raised three children and have four grandchildren.
Since taking office in 2021, her Office has won the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award, the 2024 Georgia Crime Victim Service Collaborative and Innovative Project Award, the 2022 Child Fatality Review Committee Metro County of the Year Award, and Certification from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the United States Department of Justice under the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities.
Chief Assistant District Attorney:
John Melvin
John.Melvin@GwinnettCounty.com
Appointed as the Chief Assistant District Attorney in October 2023, John Melvin returns to a role he is intimately familiar with. John has an extensive background in law enforcement and prosecution as well as being a published author, Adjunct Professor of Law, and graduate of the FBI-LEEDA program.
John Melvin is a native Georgian who grew up in DeKalb County before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. When a brain aneurysm necessitated his departure from the academy, John return home and graduated from the University of Georgia.
After graduation, John attended Ohio Northern University where he served as Executive Director of the Law Review. Upon graduation in 1995, John worked with the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office where he served until 2005. For the next seven years, he served as a Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County and ran the Public Integrity Unit. In 2013, John transitioned to Cobb County where he rose to Chief Assistant District Attorney and eventually Acting District Attorney. During this time, John tried numerous RICO trials, homicides, white collar, and gang cases.
After his time in Cobb, John served as Assistant Director and then Executive Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for four years. As second in command, he directed the operations and administration of more than 1000 agents, scientists, medical examiners, and staff.
He is the current author of Georgia Objections at Trial 2nd ed. (NITA, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2021) and has also been published in the John Marshall Law Journal - What are the Chances? A Response to Professor Milich’s View of 404(B),9 J. Marshall L.J. 40 (2015-16).
John is also an Adjunct Professor at John Marshall Law School where he teaches Trial Advocacy and White Collar Crime.
In 2020, Governor Kemp appointed John to serve on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, an organization that financially and programmatically supports innovative programs and services to improve criminal justice and empower victims in the state.
Executive Assistant District Attorney:
Mike Carlson
Mike.Carlson@GwinnettCounty.com
Michael Scott “Mike” Carlson joined the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office in March 2025 as Executive Assistant District Attorney, leading the Complex Case, Appellate, and Training divisions of the agency.
Mike has been practicing law for 30 years and has been devoted to public service since 1997. He earned an A.B. degree from the University of Georgia, then attended Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1992. As a law student Mike earned, among other distinctions, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Award for his “excellence in demonstrating the talents and attributes of the trial advocate.”
Mike began his legal career in private civil practice as an associate attorney at Hull, Towill, Norman, & Barrett (now Hull Barrett, PC) in Augusta, Georgia. From there, he entered the public sector as an Assistant District Attorney in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Mike has also served as Senior Assistant District Attorney for Fulton County, Deputy Chief Assistant for DeKalb County, Chief Assistant District Attorney for the Cobb Judicial Circuit, and Legal Division Director, Chief Counsel, and Ethics Officer for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Additionally, in 2015, then Governor Nathan Deal appointed Mike to the Georgia Court Martial Review Panel.
In addition, Mike co-authors several annually updated books on a variety of legal topics, including Carlson on Evidence, which has been cited authoritatively by Georgia’s appellate courts. Mike has also taught as an adjunct professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and Emory University School of Law. Over the years, Mike has received numerous honors recognizing his career accomplishments. This includes the Atlanta-based legal periodical the Daily Report in 2019 naming Mike as a “Georgia Trailblazer” for his commitment to the positive development of the justice system in the state.
Mike came to the Gwinnett DA’s Office after spending four years as the Executive District Attorney for the Major Crimes Division with Fulton County. He frequently lectures to attorney and judge groups across Georgia on the law of evidence, trial practice, and procedure. Mike holds a Martindale-Hubbell attorney peer review rating of “AV Preeminent,” considered the “highest peer rating standard” and “given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.”
Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney:
Herbert Adams
Herbert.Adams2@GwinnettCounty.com
Herbert Adams, Jr., is a former Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County, Herbert has spent most of his career as a criminal defense and personal injury lawyer. He has tried about 100 criminal and civil cases to verdict, and litigated dozens of appeals. (Due to his vast courtroom experience, Herbert will be involved in some major trials.)
Herbert has been a traffic court judge and a part-time instructor at Clayton State University, teaching courses in criminal law, history and political science. He holds degrees from Georgia Tech, Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Harvard. During law school he spent a semester studying at Oxford University in England. He was the youngest person ever appointed to the board of trustees at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s church, the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. As a boy, Herbert listened to King’s sermons. Like his late father, Herbert is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He and his wife, Francine, a college English professor, reside in Atlanta.
Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney:
Sabrina Nizam
Sabrina.Nizam@GwinnettCounty.com
Sabrina Nizam, a Georgia native and Gwinnett County Public Schools graduate, earned her Political Science degree from Georgia State University and her law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. She began her legal career as an Assistant Solicitor–General in DeKalb County before joining the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office in 2004. Over the years, she has served in various leadership roles and currently holds the position of Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney.
With over 20 years of experience as a felony prosecutor, Sabrina has handled serious cases involving drug trafficking, sexual assaults, child crimes, domestic violence, and murder. Her legal expertise has led to regular guest appearances on HLN, Tru TV, In Session, and Court TV, where she provides commentary on national criminal cases. She is also a recognized instructor for law enforcement and fellow prosecutors across Georgia.
Beyond the courtroom, Sabrina is deeply committed to community outreach, particularly within South Asian and refugee communities, where she provides legal education and support. Fluent in three languages, she uses her skills to help individuals better understand and navigate the justice system.
Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney:
Wanda Vance
Wanda.Vance@GwinnettCounty.com
Wanda Vance is a proud lifelong resident of Gwinnett County, where she grew up in Lawrenceville and graduated from Central Gwinnett High School. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts in English and her law degree from the University of Georgia. Her prosecution career began in 2002 as an Assistant Solicitor in Gwinnett, followed by nearly two decades at the Hall County District Attorney’s Office, where she handled a wide range of felony cases and was named Assistant District Attorney of the Year in 2015. She became Chief Assistant District Attorney in Hall County in 2013 and was known for her commitment to justice and collaboration with law enforcement.
Throughout her career, Wanda has trained prosecutors and police officers across Georgia and served on the board of Rape Response, advocating for victims of sexual assault. Her return to Gwinnett in 2021 marked a full-circle moment, allowing her to continue her passion for prosecution and service in her hometown.
Outside of work, Wanda is deeply rooted in her community. She enjoys running and gardening and treasures time with her two children and their family cats. She values the diversity and opportunity Gwinnett offers and is grateful to have both grown up and raised her family in the county she calls home.
Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney:
John Williams
John.Williams@GwinnettCounty.com
John Williams brings over two decades of prosecutorial experience to his role as Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney in Gwinnett County. After earning his law degree from the University of Tennessee, he began his career in the 10th Judicial District of Tennessee, where he handled a wide range of cases from misdemeanors to felonies. He later served nearly a decade in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, contributing to the Crimes Against Women and Children, Appeals, and Public Integrity Sections.
Before joining Gwinnett County, John served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County, where he specialized in prosecuting homicide and felony cases. In Gwinnett, he has excelled as Managing Attorney of the Special Victims Unit, demonstrating unwavering commitment to justice in cases involving child and adult sexual assault.
Originally from England, John moved to Tennessee during his teenage years and has since made Georgia his home. He enjoys following Atlanta’s sports teams — the Falcons, Braves, and Hawks— and attending games when possible. John lives locally with his wife and teenage son.
Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships:
Terrell L. Patrick
Terrell.Patrick@GwinnettCounty.com
Terrell L. Patrick serves as the Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships for the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, where he leads efforts to strengthen relationships between the justice system and the community. Since assuming the role in May 2022, Terrell has launched a variety of programs focused on youth empowerment, public safety education, and civic engagement.
With a deep passion for connecting people to resources, Terrell has played a key role in building partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and local organizations to promote justice education and outreach. His work includes organizing mentorship programs, youth summits, and community forums that give residents a voice and encourage meaningful dialogue.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in legal studies and a master’s degree in public administration with a specialization in justice administration, both from Troy University. A graduate of the Gwinnett County LEAD Academy and a Mobile Bay 40 Under 40 honoree, Terrell is committed to creating lasting impact through collaboration, education, and service.
Victim Witness Director:
Uzma Khan
Currently, Ms. Khan is proud to be a part of beautiful change at Gwinnett County District Attorney’s office by serving as a Director of Victim Witness Program with determination to provide resources and opportunities to make Gwinnet communities Greater, peaceful, safe, and ideal place to live and raise families.
A graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Health Science, and a Master’s in Public Health from Mercer University.
Ms. Khan is a dedicated public health professional who has worked in various public-private sectors of health care. Ms. Khan serves as a patient advocate throughout metro Atlanta, frequently providing in-hospital translation services for Afghan, Indian, Pakistani and Bengali patients. She also developed and implemented a targeted exercise program that aided elderly dementia residents at the Savannah Plantation Assisted Living program. In addition, Ms. Khan served as a Chair of Public Health committee of NPU-J, city of Atlanta and a Co-Chair of Pink Panel of Georgia State University working tirelessly to formulate an intervention for communities to help in breast cancer screenings. Ms. Khan is also a member of ICART and helping global researchers to stay connected and continue to work on breast cancer. From 2016 to 2018 Ms. Khan served Community Health and Men’s Promotional Summit (CHAMPS) as an executive director. In 2020 she proudly served as an interim executive director of Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition (GPCC), and currently she is an active board member of GPCC. Ms. Khan is a Co-Chair of cancer survivorship work committee of Georgia CORE (GC3) and tirelessly maintaining the momentum for saving lives and spreading awareness, education and providing resources to the communities of the state of Georgia.
Ms. Khan is a single mother of three beautiful children, two boys and one girl, she lost her husband, her best friend, and an amazing partner to prostate cancer in 2015.
Assistant Victim Witness Director:
Beth Gorski
Beth.Gorski@GwinnettCounty.com
Beth Gorski has been employed with the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office since 2014. Assisting victims has always been Beth’s passion. She has supervised a domestic violence shelter at Child and Family Services and has served as the executive director of the Will County Child Advocacy Center, a coordinated response center in Illinois that provides hope, healing, and justice for children who have endured severe physical abuse, sexual abuse, and exposure to violence.
Beth has served on various boards — including Joliet Hospice — and has been a mentor to high school students. She was also a past member of Gwinnett Giving Girls, which assists new nonprofit programs with grants. She continues to serve her community by volunteering and collecting food for local shelters.
Beth was raised in a suburb of Chicago. She attended college in Colorado and moved to Gwinnett County in 2001. Beth met her husband in Hawaii, and they have 2 children.
Chief Investigator:
Adam Gardner
Adam.Gardner@GwinnettCounty.com
Adam Gardner is a seasoned law enforcement professional with nearly 30 years of public service in Georgia. He currently serves as Chief of the Investigations Division at the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office. His extensive career includes roles such as Senior Homicide Investigator in Fulton County and various positions across the judicial system, including Georgia State Patrol, the Governor’s Executive Security Team, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, where he served in numerous specialized units, including the Courthouse Security, Dignitary Protection, Jail Operations, Warrant and Civil Divisions, Sex Offender Unit, Family Violence Division, K-9 Bomb Unit and Recruiting Division.
Chief Gardner is a Certified Chief of Police in Georgia, having completed the Chief Executive Training Course through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. He also graduated from the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association’s Supervisor and Executive Leadership Institute, further strengthening his leadership credentials
He is an active member in good standing with several professional organizations, including the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Gwinnett County Police Chiefs Association, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.
Assistant Chief Investigator:
Chris Ford
Christopher.Ford@GwinnettCounty.com
Chris Ford was appointed Assistant Chief Investigator at the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office in January 2023. He began his career in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to law enforcement in 1993 with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, later joining the Gwinnett County Police Department. There, he served as a lead detective in the computer forensics lab and was a member of the SWAT Team.
In 2016, Chris joined the District Attorney’s Office as a Computer Forensics Investigator. He frequently testifies as an expert witness in firearms, use of force, and digital forensics, and provides training and investigative support to agencies across Georgia. He is certified in multiple law enforcement disciplines and holds memberships with professional organizations including International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists, GA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, and Georgia Tactical Officers Association.
A Certified Chief of Police in Georgia, Chris is an active member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Gwinnett County Police Chiefs Association, the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, and FBI-LEEDA. He met his wife while serving in the Navy, and they now enjoy hiking, family time, and caring for their Yorkie, Maverick. Chris also volunteers at his church, offering training for church security teams.
Assistant Chief Investigator:
Andres "Andy" Rodriguez
Andres.Rodriguez@GwinnettCounty.com
Andres Rodriguez has served as the Assistant Chief Investigator at the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office since February 2022. His law enforcement career began in 2005 with the Gainesville Police Department, where he worked in the Uniform Division and specialized units such as the Domestic Violence Response Unit. In 2007, he joined the Gwinnett County Police Department, serving as both a patrol officer and a detective in the General Crimes and Homicide-Assault Units. He has completed nearly 3,000 hours of specialized training and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University.
Andres is a Certified Chief of Police in Georgia and has completed advanced leadership programs through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. He remains active in numerous professional organizations, including the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the FBI-LEEDA. His commitment to professional development and excellence has earned him recognition throughout the state.
Born in Colombia and living in the U.S. since 1995, Andres is passionate about community engagement and public education. He frequently speaks at schools, appears on podcasts, and teaches at police academies. As the first Latino to serve on the Executive Command Staff of this administration, he is proud to represent and support the Hispanic community. Andres is married and a devoted father to two sons.