The Mountain Judicial Circuit has welcomed a historic appointment: the selection of the Honorable Judge B. Nichole Carswell for the superior court, filling the vacancy created by Judge Chan Caudell’s retirement.
Carswell’s appointment marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first woman to hold this position in the circuit.
Moment she found out
“I was presiding over juvenile court when I received a text from Governor Kemp requesting that I give him a call as soon as I was free,” Carswell recounts.
“Obviously, I called a quick recess. I was very excited and incredibly honored, but I had to contain my excitement to finish court.”
Judge Carswell brings extensive experience to the bench. In addition to her juvenile court duties, she currently presides over the Mountain Judicial Circuit’s Family Dependency Treatment Court.
Before her 2017 appointment as the circuit’s first full-time juvenile court judge, she was a partner at McClure, Ramsay, Dickerson & Escoe. She handled a diverse caseload there, including family law, adoptions, real estate, probate, appellate work, and general litigation.
Changing landscape
This appointment is a personal achievement and a landmark moment for the Mountain Judicial Circuit, reflecting a changing landscape within the region’s legal community.
“When I first began practicing in 1999, there were just a handful of female attorneys,” says Carswell. “Now, there are almost as many women in the Mountain Judicial Bar Association as men. While females had been appointed or elected to other judicial roles, a female had never been appointed to the state court bench or the superior court bench.”
Caudell’s seat was one of two recent superior court vacancies filled by Gov. Kemp in the circuit. The other vacancy arose from the unexpected passing of Judge Rusty Smith. Kemp appointed Rabun County Probate Court Judge Carlton ‘Hobie’ Jones III to fill his seat.
The first order of business for Carswell and Jones will be to address the backlog of cases left by the months-long vacancies. Both seats opened up at the end of January. Carswell and Jones were sworn in on March 27.
Judge Carswell indicates she intends to bring the same efficiency she demonstrated as a juvenile court judge to her new job on the circuit’s highest court. She also aims to build upon the work Smith and Caudell started.
“I hope to continue their legacy of improving the court system to address the community’s needs,” she says.
Balancing act
Carswell’s path to the superior court bench was not initially planned. “As a young lawyer, I had no aspirations to be a judge,” she admits. “It was through my work in juvenile court that the opportunity arose.”
After serving as a part-time and then full-time juvenile court judge, she decided to pursue the superior court position, encouraged by her colleagues.
Balancing the demands of her role with family life has been a challenge, especially with the 24/7 on-call nature of her previous position.
“Fortunately, I excel at being efficient and prioritizing,” she says. “It is also extremely important to have competent staff and to take time for yourself.”
As a juvenile court judge, Carswell prioritized ensuring that those who appeared before her felt heard and respected.
“I have been surprised at the number of parents and children who have been vocal about their concerns in me not being their judge going forward,” she shares.
Judge Carswell credits her strong family support system for her success. “My husband, Chris, and my two adult children are my world,” she says. “They have been incredibly supportive.”
Faith and hard work
Looking forward, Carswell says she aims to leave a legacy of “hard work, respect, fairness, and impartiality.” She adds, “I would like to leave the Mountain Judicial Circuit better than I found it.”
Her motivation stems from a desire to use her gifts to serve her community.
“I am a firm believer that God directs our steps,” she says, citing Philippians 4:13 as a guiding scripture. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Carswell also references Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote about hard work, paraphrasing, “Nothing worth having comes easy.”
For those aspiring to a similar career, she advises perseverance and hard work. “Being a lawyer and eventually a judge is not always about being the smartest person in the room,” she emphasizes.
Beyond her professional life, Judge Carswell enjoys spending time with family, watching college sports, and teaching at Truett McConnell University.
While her appointment is historic, she humbly acknowledges the groundwork laid by others. “Susan Clark Campbell is the true trailblazer,” she said, recognizing the support of her colleagues and the community.
Judge Carswell highlights the impact of her mentors, including her former law partners and Judge Rusty Smith. “If I can be half of the superior court judge that Judge Smith was, I will have accomplished something.”
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