Deborah Ausburn is a member of Taylor English’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, where she focuses on advising and defending youth-serving organizations. Ms. Ausburn has spent more than 30 years as a social worker, foster parent, criminal prosecutor, and civil trial attorney. Her experience includes successful cases before the United States Supreme Court in constitutional claims, extensive work in free speech and religious freedom issues, and dozens of successful jury trials. That experience has given her a national presence with organizations that serve young people.
Ms. Ausburn’s background has given her unique insights into defending childcare centers, camps, schools, and mentoring organizations. She has volunteered with and defended youth-serving organizations throughout the United States in matters as diverse as personal injury cases, intrusive government regulations, libel and slander issues, and claims of sexual abuse. She has conducted numerous investigations of claims of historic child abuse and sexual assault or harassment claims. She also advises youth-serving organizations about child protection policies, staff screening, conduct standards, cyberbullying, and best practices for protecting the children in their care.
Prior to joining Taylor English, Ms. Ausburn worked with well-respected civil litigation firms defending personal injury claims against youth-serving organizations and medical facilities as well as defending childcare centers and private schools in disputes with state and federal governments. She served as a federal prosecutor in Western North Carolina, prosecuting cases of sexual assault, child abuse, and drug trafficking. She has worked with non-profit legal foundations defending free speech, religious liberties, and property rights in various federal courts.
Affiliations
- American Camping Association
- American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC)
- Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Area Council, Youth Protection Advisory Committee, 2012-present
- Cherokee Child Advocacy Council, Board of Directors 2008-2019
- Christian Legal Society
- Coverdell Leadership Institute, 2001-2002
- Enduring Hearts, Inc., Board of Directors, 2018-2021
- Federalist Society
- Hillside, Inc., Board of Directors,2012-2018
- International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (IPSCAN)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, Inc., Board of Directors 2003-2005
- State Bar of Georgia
- State Bar of North Carolina
- Successful Survivors Foundation, Board of Directors, 2022-present
Recognitions
- American Camp Association’ Southeastern Community Service Award, 2015
Practice Areas
- Government & Internal Investigations
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Media
- Youth Serving Organizations
Education
- University of Georgia School of Law, JD, magna cum laude, 1986
- Bob Jones University, BS, Speech Education, 1979
Bar Admissions
- Georgia
- North Carolina
Courts
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
Clerkships
- Clerk, Hon. J.L. Edmondson, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1986-1987
Insight
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January 30th, 2023
Every parent knows that young teenagers start ignoring most of what we say. It’s part of normal child development, and child…
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School Administrators Partially Vindicated
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The Plight of Kids Who Age Out of Foster Care
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A group that I mentor with, Connections Homes, was in the news last week, and my husband and I were part of the interviews (for about 15…
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When Does Use of a Legal Drug Warrant a Finding of Abuse or Neglect?
January 23rd, 2023
A story from Arizona illustrates a common conundrum for people who serve young people — when use of a legal drug warrants a child abuse…
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