On Tuesday, February 25, our Chief Justice and Judicial Council Chair Michael Boggs announced that he will resign from the Supreme Court at the end of March and return to private practice in South Georgia. We are so grateful for his service to all of us and to Georgia; we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Congratulations to Presiding Justice Nels S.D. Peterson for being elected as Chief Justice and Justice Sarah Warren for being elected as Presiding Justice effective April 1. Several weeks ago, on Friday, February 7th, the Judicial Council held a General Session, which was live-streamed and archived. The Judicial Council Standing Committee on Legislation has been holding weekly meetings during the legislative session to hear updates and share information; the Judicial Council Standing Committee on Access to Justice met on February 12th, and the Councils of Superior Court Judges, Probate Court Judges, Magistrate Court Judges, and Municipal Court Judges all visited the Capitol this month.
Legislative Days at the Capitol
February is Black History Month and this year we were inspired to ask Georgia judges around the state to send us a picture from their childhood, so we could show that these children grew up to serve Georgia. We got some nice press about this series. The CMuCJ 4th District held its monthly meeting on February 14. We loved the Valentine’s Day pictures from Georgia judges all over the state holding special wedding events for their constituents. We saw a great post by Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Angela Duncan celebrating recent Parental Accountability Court graduates. The Supreme Court held Oral arguments at UGA this month and we enjoyed the post of the visit by GCCA leadership to the Supreme Court.
The 34th Annual Georgia Bar, Media & Judiciary Conference took place on February 24th and featured Chief Justice Boggs who spoke on Public Confidence & the Courts. Thank you Chief Judge Brenda S. Weaver of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit for speaking at our All Staff Meeting. We enjoyed interviewing Shimike Dodson for a Judicial Council/AOC staff profile. The Georgia Municipal Court Clerks Council was honored at the capitol on February 27 with HR 406. Congratulations to new State Court Judge Mason Rountree; new Juvenile Court Judge Dee Sims and Judge Annie Doris Holder of the Probate Court and Magistrate Court in Calhoun County for her recent appointment by Governor Kemp to the Board of Commissioners of the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia. We mourn the loss of retired Muscogee County Superior Court Judge John Allen and send condolences to his friends and family. Midnight on February 28th is the deadline for submitting nominations for the 2025 Hines Awards. We close by asking you to please check your name, title, and contact information in our new Georgia Courts Directory draft, which is going to print shortly.
Call on us anytime. Talk to you in March.
Your JC/AOC Courts Journal team: Michelle Barclay, Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez, Bruce Shaw, and our contractor, John Ramspott