--- title: SR 495. Green, Judge Reuben; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr495 cite_as: SR 495, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr495 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr495.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr495/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71852 date: 2025-03-31 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr494.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr496.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr495.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 495 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-31 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kay Kirkpatrick - John Albers - Michael Rhett - Chuck Payne - Jason Esteves - Ed Setzler text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR495/2025 upstream_id: 2016605 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - condolence resolution - Cobb County courts - veterans treatment court - Georgia judiciary --- # SR 495. Green, Judge Reuben; condolences ## Text 25 LC 112 3575 Senate Resolution 495 By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, Rhett of the 33rd, Payne of the 54th, Esteves of the 35th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and honoring the life and legacy of Judge Reuben Gr een; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, Judge Reuben Green, a respected jurist and dedicated p ublic servant, passed3 away after a courageous battle with cancer, leaving behind a profound legacy of service and4 compassion; and5 WHEREAS, born in Oregon and raised between Salem, Oregon, and V inings, Georgia,6 Judge Green honorably served his country in the United States M arine Corps, earning the7 Good Conduct and National Defense Medals; and8 WHEREAS, Judge Green received his bachelor's degree in political science from Lewis &9 Clark College, where he met his devoted wife of 25 years, Heidi Green, and later earned his10 law degree with honors from Emory University School of Law; and11 WHEREAS, throughout his distinguished career, he served in private law practice, as Special12 Assistant United States Attorney, Assistant District Attorney for Cobb County, and Superior13 Court Judge appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2010, faithfully serving until 2020; and14 S. R. 495 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3575 WHEREAS, Judge Green notably established the Cobb County Veterans Accountability and15 Treatment Court, a pioneering program providing essential rehab ilitation and support16 services to veterans involved in the criminal justice system; and17 WHEREAS, admired for his fairness, integrity, and commitment to justice, Judge Green18 positively impacted countless lives through his dedicated service both inside and outside the19 courtroom; and20 WHEREAS, a loving husband, father, and mentor, Judge Green is fondly remembered for21 his kindness, empathy, humor, and unwavering dedication to family, faith, and community;22 and23 WHEREAS, he and Heidi faithfully served their community and sta te by fostering 1524 children, helping families in their church successfully achieve adoption, and adopting Hailey25 as their daughter; and26 WHEREAS, Judge Green cherished and honored his role as a father and often spoke of his27 greatest achievement in raising Hailey and Colton, particularly in his final years, along with28 his partner of 25 years, Heidi; and29 WHEREAS, Judge Green's profound contributions to Cobb County and the State of Georgia,30 particularly through the establishment and nurturing of the Vet erans Court, have left an31 enduring legacy that will continue to benefit generations to come.32 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body33 join in honoring the extraordinary life and leadership of Judge Reuben Green, celebrating his34 S. R. 495 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3575 profound contributions to the State of Georgia, and expressing deepest condolences to his35 family, friends, and all who were blessed to know him.36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed37 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Heidi Green and38 the family of Judge Reuben Green.39 S. R. 495 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution honors the life of Judge Reuben Green, a former Cobb County Superior Court judge and Marine veteran who died of cancer, and offers condolences to his family. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate is a ceremonial tribute to Judge Reuben Green, who served as a Cobb County Superior Court judge from 2010 to 2020 after being appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue. It recounts his military service in the United States Marine Corps, his education at Lewis and Clark College and Emory University School of Law, and his legal career including work as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant District Attorney for Cobb County. The resolution highlights his creation of the Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court, a program supporting veterans in the criminal justice system, and describes his family life with his wife Heidi and their children. The Senate resolves to honor his legacy and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to his family. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and honors the life and career of Judge Reuben Green, a former Cobb County Superior Court judge. - Expresses the Georgia Senate's condolences to Judge Green's family, friends, and community. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to Heidi Green and the Green family. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Judge Reuben Green's widow Heidi Green and his family as recipients of the Senate's condolences. It otherwise has no regulatory effect on any group in Georgia, since it is a ceremonial honor rather than a law. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or regulatory consequences for Georgians. Its significance is symbolic, formally recording the Georgia Senate's recognition of Judge Green's public service, including his role founding a veterans treatment court in Cobb County, and providing his family an official record of that tribute. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Judge Green's military service, education, legal career, and 2010 appointment to the Cobb County Superior Court by Governor Sonny Perdue. - The resolution credits Judge Green with establishing the Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court for veterans in the criminal justice system. - The resolving clause has the Senate honor his life and extend condolences to his family and friends. - A further resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to Heidi Green and the Green family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-31) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-31) - Sponsors: Kay Kirkpatrick, John Albers, Michael Rhett, Chuck Payne, Jason Esteves, Ed Setzler - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71852 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr495.md?full=1