2010 Drug, DUI and Mental Health Court Conference

Presenter Biographies 24
Commissioner Brian Owens began his career in criminal justice as a parole officer. He later served as Assistant
Chief Parole Officer and Chief Parole Officer in Fulton County. In 1999, Mr. Owens led the Department of
Corrections’ Office of Planning and Analysis before accepting the position of Executive Assistant to former Commissioner
Jim Wetherington in 2002. In 2005, Mr. Owens accepted the position of Assistant Commissioner under
former Commissioner James E. Donald. In January 2009, Mr. Owens was selected by Governor Sonny Perdue to
serve as the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections. Commissioner Owens is a graduate of the University
of Georgia.
Mr. Lee Rushton was born and raised in the Atlanta Metro Area. He is a graduated from the University of
Georgia with a degree in education in 1999. Mr. Rushton taught photography in the DeKalb County School System
from 2000-2004. Moving back to Athens, he began working as a Police Officer at the University of Georgia
while pursuing an advanced degree. He worked in the Crime Prevention Bureau with UGAPD from 2006-2007
teaching self defense and basic security techniques. Mr. Rushton began working with the Athens Area DUI-Drug
Court in August of 2008.
Judge Robert T. Russell was first elected in 1991 as associate judge for Buffalo City Court and also serves by
appointment as an acting Erie County court judge. He is a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the National
Association of Drug Court Professionals, Inc., located in Alexandria, Virginia and the past president of the New
York State Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals, Inc. His work in the drug treatment court field
led to his induction into the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, “Hall of Fame.” He is also the recipient
of the New York State Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals, “Leadership Award,” the Erie
County Bar Association’s, “Award of Merit” and the New York State Bar Association, “Award for Outstanding
Judicial Contribution”. Judge Russell is a graduate of Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Stephen J. Schoenthaler, Ph.D. has doctorates in Sociological Theory, Social Psychology and Criminology.
He is serving as associate professor of sociology at California State University Stanislaus. In 1991, he was Nominated
for Nobel Laureate and 2000 Linus Pauling Award Winner for Outstanding Landmark Research in Orthomolecular
Medicine. In 2002, he was awarded Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Professor for Nutrition
and Behavior and Change of Venue Research. Stephen served in 1989 as the International Director of Research
for the Dietary Research Foundation in London and expert witness and researcher for 27 cases. In 1999, he
served on the U.S. Department of Justice National Assembly on Alcohol, Drugs and Crime.
Judge John T. Simpson has served as a superior court judge of the Coweta Judicial Circuit since January 1,
1997. While he presides over courts in Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup counties, he chose to
establish a child support problem solving court, using the national model, in his home county of Carroll. Prior to
serving as superior court Judge, he was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for ten years. He was
also an attorney in private practice for over ten years. He started his legal career as the law clerk for the late Joseph
Jackson who was the Chief Judge of the Coweta Judicial Circuit. Judge Simpson has a Juris Doctor degree
from Mercer University, as well as a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of West Georgia.
He also has a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the University of West Georgia.