Judge Patricia Barron is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up in Atlanta during the end of the turbulent civil rights era. She decided at age 12 to become a lawyer. That revelation occurred during social studies classes in Atlanta public schools. The public schools were not integrated until Judge Barron reached the 11th grade. At that time, she was required by law to leave the all Black Luther J. Price High School and transfer to Walter F. George High School. Judge Barron is a 1972 graduate of George High School. She excelled in basketball, softball and her studies, where she graduated with the second highest grade point average in her graduating class.

Upon graduation, Judge Barron attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. There she worked as a reporter for the school newspaper, became editor of the first Black student newspaper at the college, and majored in Political Science. She graduated summa cum laude from Mercer in 1976. Upon entering law school at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., Judge Barron began a life-long career teaching high school students and young adults in "Street Law". She graduated from Georgetown in 1979.

Judge Barron worked as a poverty rights attorney with Georgia Legal Services for 20 years, before becoming a full time law professor at the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens, Georgia. After two years as a law professor, Judge Barron was sworn in as Associate Magistrate Court Judge of Athens-Clarke County in February 2001. She became Chief Judge of that Court in August 2002. Once a resident of the public housing projects in southwest Atlanta, Judge Barron grew up to become a lawyer, law professor and judge. She is an inspiration to anyone who comes from humble beginnings and wants to dedicate their lives to serving humanity.