After several delays, Habersham County’s now former District Attorney Brian Rickman is finally a judge.
Rickman was sworn in by Gov. Nathan Deal today along with two others to serve on the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Rickman, Amanda Mercier and Nels S.D. Peterson were appointed by Gov. Deal back in October. They were to have been sworn in three weeks ago but plaintiffs filed a lawsuit claiming the appointments were unconstitutional.
READ: Rickman’s Judgeship on Hold
That suit was dismissed by a Fulton Superior Court Judge and the State Supreme Court denied an emergency motion that would have barred Deal from swearing in his three appointees to the state Court of Appeals.
The judgeships were created by the state legislature earlier this year.
The terms of the new judges will begin Jan. 1, 2016 and will continue through Dec. 31, 2018.
Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant District Attorney George Christian will serve as acting D.A. until Governor Deal appoints Rickman’s successor. The D.A.’s job is up for reelection next year.
MEET THE NEW JUDGES
Brian Rickman
Rickman served as D.A. for Habersham, Rabun and Stephens Counties for seven years. He was appointed by then Gov. Sonny Perdue to succeed Mike Crawford when Crawford retired in 2008.
Rickman earned a bachelor’s degree from Piedmont College and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. He has served as an adjunct professor at Piedmont College and serves on the college’s board of trustees. He and his wife, Maggie, have two children and reside in Tiger.
Amanda H. Mercier
Mercier served as a superior court judge within the Appalachian Judicial Circuit. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. She and her husband, Joseph, have one child and reside in Blue Ridge.
Nels S.D. Peterson
Peterson was vice chancellor for legal affairs and secretary to the Board of Regents. He previously worked at the Georgia Department of Law and established Georgia’s first Solicitor General Office where he served as solicitor general. He was also the deputy executive counsel and executive counsel for Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Peterson earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kennesaw State University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children and reside in Marietta.
Photos: Gov. Deal’s office
