Imani J. Carter

Imani J. Carter is originally from New Castle, Pennsylvania. Carter received her Bachelor of Arts in criminology and investigations from West Virginia University. She relocated to Athens, Georgia, in 2012 in order to pursue her Juris Doctor. Carter graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2015. During law school, she clerked for Justice Carla Wong McMillian with the Georgia Court of Appeals and did legal research for Associate Dean Andrea Dennis. Carter was also a part of various student organizations, including the Black Law Students Association, the Public Interest Law Council and Athens Peer Court. Upon graduating with her J.D., Carter began her legal career as an assistant public defender at the Western Judicial Circuit Public Defender Office in Athens, where she currently practices.

During her career as a criminal defense attorney, Carter has built and strengthened her litigation, trial and negotiation skills. She defends her clients from misdemeanor and felony charges and continues to represent them on appeals. Carter has an extensive amount of trial experience, totaling over 30 jury trials as lead counsel and dozens as second chair. She works zealously to be the voice for people who often feel their voices go unheard. Outside of work, she devotes her time to advocating for the community of Athens and supporting social and racial justice. Carter is board chair of Envision Athens 501(c)(3) and is the Athens regional VP for the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA). She is a devoted member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Carter is a mentor for future lawyers through the School of Law’s Alumni Mentorship Program. In addition to mentoring law students, Carter regularly speaks on professional panels about various aspects of criminal law and her legal career, and she shares information with high school students about their opportunities after graduation. She attends Timothy Baptist Church and leads its Dance Ministry and its College Ministry. In her free time, Carter also runs a website, a lifestyle blog and a YouTube channel where she shares motivational and inspirational messages and content. She truly enjoys reading, playing with her dog Cole, working out, watching movies and hanging with her friends.