Manning Peace, LLC

Our Lawyers

Cindy Manning

Cindy Manning started Manning Peace, LLC with the intention of serving clients with the excellence of a big firm and prosecution training, service, and economics of a small firm. In doing so, she represents individuals and businesses, helping her clients solve problems related to criminal charges. With over a decade of experience practicing as a trial lawyer, Cindy provides each client with individual service and support.

Additionally, Cindy has extensive appellate experience in both civil and criminal matters and has argued before both the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. She is also admitted to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court in Washington, DC.

Experience as a Former Prosecutor

Cindy worked for several years as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting felonies and misdemeanors in the courts of Georgia. With her extensive trial experience and familiarity with criminal procedure in Georgia, Cindy is poised and confident in the courtroom and is not afraid to approach any judge, prosecutor, or opposing counsel to meet the needs of her clients.

The Start of Her Legal Career

In 1999, she graduated cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Following her undergraduate coursework, she was granted a full scholarship to Boston University where she earned her Juris Doctorate, graduating magna cum laude in 2002.

While at Boston University, she served as an editor of the Boston University Law Review and was active with the moot court and mock trial programs. She also participated in the criminal law clinic where she prosecuted criminal defendants in Boston’s state courts.

Areas of Practice

Criminal Defense 100%

Bar Admissions

Georgia, 1999
Tennessee

Education

Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
- Honors: magna cum laude
Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida
- B.A. - 1999
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Criminal Justice

Honors and Awards

Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Star by Law and Politics
Georgia Super Lawyer
Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Star
Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Star

Professional Associations and Memberships

Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, Former President
Atlanta Council for Younger Lawyers
Atlanta Bar Association
Fayette Bar Association

Past Employment Positions

Alston & Bird LLP, Associate
District Attorney's Office - Griffin Judicial Circ, Assistant District Attorney

Pro Bono Activities

Board of Directors - Clothes Less Traveled Thrift Store
Board of Directors - Friends of the Tyrone Public Library

Holly Peace

Cindy Manning

Holly Peace was born in California and spent her younger years on the West Coast before moving with her family to Peachtree City, Georgia. Her passion for criminal defense began in the 3rd grade when she visited Alcatraz in San Francisco. After touring the prison and hearing stories from the prior inmates, she felt a desire to help those that society tosses away. That desire coupled with her faith in Jesus Christ forged her ambition for a career in the criminal justice system.

After graduating from McIntosh High School, she attended the University of Alabama on a full scholarship and obtained psychology and criminal justice degrees in three years. During her time in college, she worked as a jail detention officer.

In 2016, Holly graduated from Georgia State College of Law in an effort to further her ability to help people. She insists there are no bad people, only bad choices. Her passion and ambition to systematically change the justice system grow stronger with every new case she handles.

She eventually moved back to Fayette County and worked as a case manager for Ballard & Ballard law firm. Her boss, Scott Ballard, successfully campaigned for District Attorney of the Griffin Judicial Circuit and Holly followed him to the DA’s office. Her reluctance to join the prosecution side of the justice system was relieved when Scott allowed her to create and implement the Pre-Trial Diversion program for the circuit, allowing first-time offenders a second chance at a clean criminal history record. Holly ran the program for four years and it continues to be a successful sentencing option for the DA’s office to this day.

Holly met her best friend and partner of Manning Peace, LLC, Cindy Manning, during her time at the district attorney’s office. When Cindy accepted a big firm job in Atlanta as a civil litigator, Holly followed her there to work as a Resource Center Specialist for Alston & Bird LLP. After four years of the long commute, Holly was happy to accept a position with then Fayette County State Court Judge Carla McMillian and served as her judicial assistant until Judge McMillian was appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals by Governor Nathan Deal in 2013. It was then that Holly joined Manning Peace, LLC and, after 10 years of working with and for attorneys, began attending law school.

Client communication is Holly’s favorite part of working at Manning Peace, LLC. She loves meeting people at their greatest time of need, getting to know them and their family, and walking them through the storm of prosecution until it is behind them. She is a skilled negotiator and compassionate counselor for clients in distress. She enjoys helping clients navigate the emotional and confusing waters of the court system. With patience and kindness, Holly takes all the time needed to ensure those we represent are comfortable and understanding of the process.

Holly is married to Dana Peace, who owns Peace Carpentry LLC. They have a daughter who is in middle school. Apart from her practice, Holly owns a hunter/ jumper horse stable in Coweta County.

With every client she meets, Holly is reminded of her favorite Bible verse and life mantra which is from Micah 6:8: Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God.

Areas of Practice

Criminal Defense 75%
Criminal Appeals 25%

Bar Admissions

Georgia, 2016

Education

Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta, Georgia
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- B.S. - 2003
- Major: Psychology and Criminal Justice

Representative Clients

Wiggins v. State - https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/court-of-appeals/2018/a18a0611.html
Delgado v. State - https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/court-of-appeals/2020/a20a1096.html
O'Shields v. State - https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/court-of-appeals/2019/a19a0899.html

Professional Associations and Memberships

Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Present
Fayette County Bar Association, Present

Past Employment Positions

Judicial Assistant to Fayette State Court Judge, current Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carla McMillian, 2012-2013
Alston & Bird LLP, Resource Center Specialist, 2008-2012
District Attorney's Office - Griffin Judicial Circuit, Pre-Trial Diversion Director, 2005-2008
Ballard & Ballard, Legal Assistant in criminal defense law firm, 2003-2005