Beverly B. Martin joins JAMS following a distinguished career in public service. Judge Martin served more than two decades as a member of the federal judiciary in her home state of Georgia. Most recently, she served as the executive director for the Center on Civil Justice at New York University. Her legal acumen and her commitment to justice and fairness have been hallmarks of her professional journey. Now, as a dedicated alternative dispute resolution practitioner, Judge Martin will bring her balanced approach, attention to detail, and fair and thoughtful decision-making to resolving disputes.

With an extensive background in prosecutorial and judicial roles, Judge Martin recognizes the value of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in alleviating the burdens of the judicial system and providing more efficient resolutions for parties involved. Now, as a JAMS neutral, she approaches ADR as a means to enhance access to justice, reduce costs and foster collaborative solutions. She believes in the importance of ADR in promoting a more responsive and adaptable legal system.

After starting her legal career in private practice, Judge Martin entered public service as an assistant attorney general in Georgia, then prosecuted criminal cases as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Middle District of Georgia. In 1997, she was confirmed as a U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. In 2000, she was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, serving for a decade. In 2010, she was confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Since leaving the bench, Judge Martin has provided neutral analysis and consultation services to law firms and their clients as they prepare for appellate arguments. She remains actively involved in the legal community in Georgia and nationally.

Representative Opinions Authored by Judge Martin

Appellate Opinions Related to Arbitration

• Gherardi v. Citigroup Glob. Markets Inc., 975 F. 3d 1232, 1239 (11th Cir. 2020) (enforcement of arbitral agreement)
• Spirit Airlines Inc. v. Maizes, 899 F. 3d 1230 (11th Cir. 2018) (enforcement of arbitral agreement)

Appellate Opinions Related to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

• Darrisaw v. Pa. Higher Educ. Assistance Agency, 949 F. 3d 1302, 1308 (11th Cir. 2020) (applying statutory definition of “debt collector”)
• Trichell v. Midland Credit Mgmt. Inc., 964 F. 3d 990, 1005 (11th Cir. 2020) (applying principles of standing)
• Pinson v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, et al., 942 F. 3d 1200 (11th Cir. 2019) (applying standing principles)
• Rivas v. Midland Funding, No.19-13383, slip op. at 13 (11th Cir. 2021) (evaluating statutory requirements for proving liability under the FDCPA)

Appellate Opinions Related to Employment

• EEOC v. Catastrophe Management Solutions, 876 F. 3d 1273,1278 (11th Cir. 2017) (discrimination in hiring)
• Villareal v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 806 F. 3d 1288 (11th Cir. 2015) (age discrimination)
• Larweth v. Magellan Health, Inc., No. 19-13247, slip op. at 26 (11th Cir. 2021) (restrictive covenant in employment agreement)
• Nat. Assoc. of the Deaf v. Florida, 980 F. 3d 763 (11th Cir. 2020) (Americans with Disabilities Act)

Appellate Opinions About Class Actions Business and Commercial Disputes

• In re Equifax Inc. Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig., 999 F3d 1247 (11th Cir. 2021) (ruling on challenge to class settlement)
• Spencer v. Specialty Foundry Prods. Inc., 953 F. 3d 735 (11th Cir. 2020) (application of Class Action Fairness Act of 2005)
• TVPX ARS Inc. v. Genworth Life & Annuity Ins. Co., 959 F.3d 1318 (11th Cir. 2020) (addressing res judicata claims in competing class actions alleging misrepresentations in sales of insurance policies)
• Hallums v. Infinity Ins. Co., 945 F. 3d 1144 (11th Cir. 2019) (addressing claims of illusory auto insurance coverage brought by class)

Appellate Opinions Related to Insurance Coverage

• St. Louis Condo. Assoc. v. Rockhill Ins. Co., 5 F. 4th 1235 (11th Cir. 2021) (examining insurance coverage of property damage after Hurricane Irma)
• Estate of Malkin v. Wells Fargo Bank, 998 F. 3d 1186 (11th Cir. 2021) (considering stranger-initiated life insurance policy, applying Delaware law)
• Wickboldt v. Mass. Mutual Life Ins., No. 19-14032, slip op. (11th Cir. 2020) (interpretation of disability insurance contract)

Appellate Opinions Addressing Products Liability

• Godelia v. Doe, 881 F. 3d 1309 (11th Cir. 2018) (addressing liability for alleged failure of medical device)
• Mink v. Smith & Nephew, Inc., 860 F. 3d 1319 (11th Cir. 2017) (addressing liability for alleged defective medical device under federal and state law)

Bankruptcy Appeals

• Tufts v. Hay, 977 F. 3d 1204 (11th Cir. 2020) (addressing conflicting claims for attorneys’ fees in bankruptcy proceeding)
• Johnson v. Midland Funding, LLC, 823 F. 3d 1334 (11th Cir. 2016) (examining application of Federal Debt Collection Practices Act in bankruptcy context)

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Memberships and Affiliations

• Board Member, Campaign Legal Center, 2022–2024
• Board Member, Southern Center for Human Rights, 2021–2024
• Member, Board of Advisers, Center on Civil Justice, New York University School of Law, 2024
• Member, Board of Advisors, Mothers Behind Bars, 2024
• Member, Board of Advisors, National Incarceration Association, 2021–2024
• Member, Anti-Subversion Task Force, Keep Our Republic, 2022–2024

Selected Awards and Honors

• Judicial Legacy Series Award, Alliance for Justice, 2024
• Legal Legends Award, American Constitution Society, 2021

Selected Publications

• Sam Issacharoff and Beverly Martin, “Putting Railroad Justice Back on Track,” New Voices in Access to Justice, 2024

Background and Education

• Executive Director, Center on Civil Justice, New York University, 2021–2024
• Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2010–2021
• Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, 2000–2010
• U.S. Attorney, Middle District of Georgia, 1997–2000
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney, Middle District of Georgia, 1994–1997
• Assistant Attorney General, State of Georgia, 1984–1994
• Attorney; Martin, Snow, Grant & Napier; 1981–1984
• J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, 1981
• B.A., Stetson University, 1977