Canton, GA Lawyers

Prosecution

90 North Street, Suite 390, Canton, GA 30114

Alana Driscoll is an assistant district attorney with the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office in Canton, Georgia, identified in that role in a March 2026 prosecution announcement. Her work for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit has included domestic violence, sexual assault, and homicide prosecutions. In 2022, Driscoll prosecuted David Alexander Sleight as a member of the office’s Domestic Violence Unit. The case involved aggravated assault, violation of a family violence order, false imprisonment, and family violence battery. At the sentencing hearing, she read a statement written by the victim. Sleight received an eight-year prison sentence following a non-negotiated guilty plea. A February 2024 announcement identified Driscoll with the Special Victims Unit. She prosecuted Mariano Diego-Tercero with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Meaghan Frankish following an investigation by the Canton Police Department. A jury convicted the defendant of rape, aggravated assault, and attempted rape; the court subsequently imposed a life sentence. In 2026, Driscoll prosecuted Teryn Blakeney in DeKalb County with assistance from Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey Fogus. Cherokee County’s office took the case after the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office recused itself. The jury found Blakeney guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during a crime, while acquitting her of malice murder. The court sentenced Blakeney to life in prison plus five years.

Criminal Defense Law

101 W Main St, Canton, GA 30114, USA

Christopher Bishop is a Canton, Georgia, attorney announced by the Cherokee County Solicitor-General’s office as the judge-elect who will succeed State Court Judge W. Alan Jordan. The office’s announcement places that transition in January. Canton is also the location of the Law Offices of Christopher L. Bishop, whose public firm page gives an address of 101 West Main Street. On the firm’s website, he appears as Chris Bishop. The firm describes its work as criminal-law and DUI trial practice; its criminal-defense listing covers superior, state, juvenile and city courts. Bishop began practicing in his hometown in 2005. His campaign biography traces his education from Cherokee High School to the University of Georgia in Athens, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. It describes him as a lifelong Cherokee County resident, with six generations of family ties to the community. His grandfather served as Canton’s mayor, while his father, Barry Bishop, maintained a law firm in Cherokee County. His bar-association record includes three offices: secretary, vice president and president of the local Blue Ridge Bar Association. He has also served on the Cherokee County Indigent Defense Committee. Among the other activities recorded in his campaign biography are service as Law Day chairman and graduation from Leadership Cherokee in 2008.

Family and Divorce Law

391 E Main St, Canton, GA 30114, USA

Courtney H. Carpenter provides representation in all matters of family law and is passionate about helping clients find the best resolution possible based on their individual goals. The litigation process can be complicated and emotional, and Ms. Carpenter works with each client to help them navigate their options to make informed decisions throughout their case. Ms. Carpenter earned a Bachelor of Science with a major in political science, a certification in professional politics, and a minor in international affairs, graduating magna cum laude from Kennesaw State University in 2006. Thereafter, Ms. Carpenter earned a Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 2010. During her time at Emory, she volunteered with Student Legal Services and was a participant in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society. Ms. Carpenter’s legal career has almost exclusively focused on family law since 2011. Prior to joining Burns Smith Law, Ms. Carpenter was a Partner at one of the largest family law firms in Georgia.

Criminal Defense Law

391 E Main St, Canton, GA 30114, USA

Zachary H. Smith is a Partner at Burns Smith Law, P.C., where he focuses his practice on criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation. Known for his strategic courtroom advocacy and unwavering dedication to his clients, Zachary has built a reputation as a formidable trial attorney who consistently delivers results in high-stakes legal matters. With more than 75 trials to his credit, Zachary brings extensive litigation experience and proven skill to every case he handles. In 2025, he secured a $1.6 million verdict for the plaintiff in a complex water run-off civil case, demonstrating his ability to navigate intricate legal issues and achieve exceptional outcomes. That same year, he successfully argued Wright v. State, A25A0076, before the Georgia Court of Appeals, obtaining a significant appellate victory. Zachary’s excellence in the legal profession has earned him national recognition. He has been honored as one of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and named among the Lawyers of Distinction from 2023 through 2025, reflecting his outstanding skill, integrity, and commitment to client advocacy. Zachary earned his law degree from the Claude Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University. At Burns Smith Law, P.C., he is dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation—whether defending the accused, guiding families through sensitive matters, or litigating complex civil disputes.

Criminal Defense Law

391 E Main St, Canton, GA 30114, USA

Mr. Smith has many years of courtroom and trial litigation experience trying simple to serious, complex cases. In the Appellate Court, he argued before the Georgia Supreme Court in State v. Kenneth Williams (S19G0005).