A Conversation with Judge Tangela Barrie: Custody, Chaos & Courtroom Decorum

In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, Steve, Patty, and Alexa sit down with Judge Tangela Barrie of the DeKalb County Superior Court - the youngest judge ever elected in DeKalb and a former Prosecuting Attorney of the Year.Judge Barrie pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind the bench:• How judges navigate high-conflict custody cases • Why courtroom decorum matters more than you think • The rise of sovereign citizens in family and criminal cases • Pro se chaos: the wildest things she’s seen litigants do • Attorney professionalism and the quickest ways to get on a judge’s bad side • How judges decide what makes your case different from every other case • Why “respect” is the currency of the courtroom • When she chooses to rule from the bench vs. taking a matter under advisementJudge Barrie also shares personal stories from her path through private practice, criminal prosecution, and ultimately to the Superior Court bench - and what she wishes every party and every lawyer understood before they walk into her courtroom.This is one of our most insightful judge interviews yet, offering rare, candid advice for attorneys, litigants, and anyone trying to understand how family court really works.🕒 Chapters00:00 – Intro 00:43 – Welcoming Judge Tangela Barrie 02:00 – From Prosecutor to Judge 05:00 – What Makes a Case “Different” 07:10 – Handling High-Conflict Custody Cases 12:00 – Guardian ad Litem or Not? 13:50 – Wildest Pro Se Moments 15:10 – The Rise of Sovereign Citizens 17:00 – Attorney Behavior: The Good, The Bad & The Unprofessional 22:50 – Respect, Decorum & Courtroom Culture 27:00 – How Judges Want Lawyers to Present Cases 32:00 – Writing Orders & Behind-the-Scenes Work 34:00 – Chief Judge Duties & E-Filing Evolution 35:00 – Judge Barrie’s Favorite Movies 37:00 – Final Insights: Mediation, Resolution & Perspective 40:00 – Closing Thoughts🎧 Listen or WatchWatch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GruHuWgyWA or listen on your favorite podcast platform - Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.📩 Contact: [email protected]🌐 Website: https://www.shewmakerandlewis.com🎧 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards📺 Subscribe for new episodes and candid conversations about family law, custody, and criminal defense.🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions🎥 Produced by: Bleeding Edge, Inc.🎬 Audio & Video Production: Rob Burgner📍 Recorded at: Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta, GA