Nominations are being accepted to fill an open seat on the Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court. Members of the Bar and the general public may submit nominations now through September 23.
To be eligible, a nominee must be a state resident for at least three years and reside in the circuit. They must also be at least 30 years old and have practiced law for a minimum of seven years.
Nominations should be submitted to the Commission by email at [email protected] or by letter addressed to the Judicial Nominating Commission, c/o Vincent Russo, 500 14th Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30318.
Applicants should download the application package from the Commission’s website at jnc.georgia.gov/application.
The Commission will select and recommend to the governor a short list from those applicants interviewed and found to be “qualified” or “well qualified” for this position, the commission states. Governor Brian Kemp will then make the appointment.
The new judge will serve from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024, after which time an elected judge would begin a four-year term.
The governor’s appointee will become the third Superior Court judge for the circuit that includes Habersham, Rabun, and Stephens counties. The position was created by the passage of Senate Bill 395 which was sponsored by 50th District State Senator Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia).
Hatchett, an attorney, testified in Senate hearings earlier this year that a third judge is needed to overcome case backlogs. He quoted the findings of the Judicial Workload Assessment Committee which ranked the Mountain Circuit third out of fifty for needing help with caseloads.
