On Monday, February 2, 2026, Law360 reported that DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Stacey Hydrick is resigning from her position at the end of February to assume the role of director of the antisemitism response network for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. This decision follows criticism from the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia) regarding social media comments they deemed anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim.

Judge Hydrick informed Georgia Governor Brian Kemp of her resignation in a letter dated January 13, 2026, marking the end of her 14-year tenure as a judge. She has served as a state court judge since 2011 and a Superior Court judge since 2019. In her letter, Judge Hydrick expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and her commitment to upholding the rule of law with fairness and integrity.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, according to its website, provides resources and support to families facing food insecurity, ensures accessibility to Jewish spaces for people with disabilities, aids displaced Israelis following the October 7, 2023, attacks, and supports Holocaust survivors and seniors in need.

Judge Hydrick stated that she was not planning to retire imminently but recognized the position at the Federation as an opportunity to serve the Jewish community in a more significant capacity. She emphasized the alignment of this role with her desire to address the increasing antisemitism, stating that she could not decline the opportunity.

CAIR-Georgia issued a statement on Monday welcoming Judge Hydrick’s resignation, citing her social media comments that described Gazans celebrating the October 7 attacks and questioned the existence of innocent civilians in Gaza. These comments, posted in February 2025, prompted CAIR-Georgia to file a complaint with the state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), alleging bias against Palestinians and Muslims, thereby undermining public trust in the judiciary’s impartiality.

The JQC spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a complaint. Azka Mahmood, executive director for CAIR-Georgia, expressed relief that Judge Hydrick would no longer preside over courtrooms in DeKalb County and hopes that her successor will uphold equal justice under the law, free from personal bias. CAIR-Georgia also anticipates the conclusion of the JQC’s investigation into Judge Hydrick’s conduct.

Judge Hydrick resigned from the Judicial Qualifications Commission in early 2025.

 

 

Source: Law360