Attorney Bobby Christine has worn many hats during his career, including serving as an assistant district attorney in Augusta, an Army reservist, as magistrate judge in Columbia County and as the United States Attorney for both the Southern District and the Northern District of Georgia. Currently, Bobby serves as the first district attorney for the newly created Columbia County judicial district in a community he has called home for nearly thirty years and in which he and his wife, Sheri, have raised their three children.
“In my career, I've been blessed to work with law enforcement at every level and there's nothing as gratifying as doing it right here in my own community on behalf of the citizens of Columbia County,” shares Bobby. “I love the vibrance of the community and I love the school system. We have a strong quality of life and economy in Columbia County as a result of 230 years of very hard work.”
As a member of the community, Bobby recognizes the importance of solid leadership and a welcoming spirit. “I'm so thankful we have organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, and forward thinking, insightful leaders in our county government,” says Bobby. “Harlem and Grovetown also deserve credit for leadership. They work with our federal employers, not the least of which is Fort Gordon. The reception our municipalities give military families coming for either a short tour or long assignment is critical as these welcome residents choose a community in which to live.”
Actively protecting Columbia County’s quality of life is a driving force behind the mission of the office Bobby has developed over the last six months. “It's our duty to preserve, defend, and enhance that quality of life in this community,” he explains. “We do that in the district attorney's office by pursuing justice for victims, for the community, and for the accused while also protecting law enforcement's legal maneuver space.”
With a staff of only sixteen, those in the office work hard but are exhilarated by the tasks at hand. “We have a staff half as large as many predicted was necessary to get the job done,” says Bobby. “Benchmark counties against which we are compared, which are counties with similar court systems, similar numbers of judges, and similar populations, have more than twice that many staff. By creating processes and procedures that meet the needs of this community, we're able to work efficiently. I'm so proud of this staff, both lawyers and non-lawyers, that my heart just swells. They've come together quickly and are getting it done.”
In addition to addressing present concerns, Bobby makes it his mission to prepare his team for the future. “It’s my job in the district attorney's office to provide purpose, motivation, and direction,” he explains. “I do that by having recruited and assembled a phenomenal staff. Every day I'm engaged with them to teach, mentor, and coach. We're not only prosecuting today’s crime, we're continuously pursuing professional education to be ready to meet and prosecute the criminal activity of tomorrow.”
“When I was U.S. Attorney, I was chief federal law enforcement officer for eighty-nine counties,” says Bobby. “I saw a lot of counties that got it wrong, but Columbia County has gotten it right. However, if we take our eye off the ball, that can change quickly. We owe it to the folks who made it this way, and the folks who come behind us, to keep this quality of life.”
Bobby’s desire to engage the community and get citizens to help deter crime is highlighted in a public service announcement. In the PSA, Bobby invites citizens to follow this simple motto: lock what you leave. “Over ninety-four percent of illegal entries to vehicles are made to vehicles left unlocked,” explains Bobby. “We know criminals go to neighborhoods and parking lots and only enter cars which are unlocked. If it's locked, they move on. The easiest way for you to back the blue and cut down on the number of crimes is to simply lock what you leave.”
Ultimately, it’s about the community continuing to work together to keep Columbia County a great place to live, work, and play. “If we work together to preserve the rule of law, then we will preserve our quality of life,” says Bobby. “We will preserve what's right in this community, and we'll do it with a maximum amount of freedom…that's the blessing of America, which is evidenced no better than right here in Columbia County. Through mature, visible, and accountable leadership your District Attorney will do his part … and then I'll meet you on the high ground!”