Georgia Supreme Court appoints new chief justice

In a significant decision by Georgia’s highest judicial body, the state Supreme Court’s justices have unanimously selected a new chief justice. The appointment of Presiding Justice Nels Peterson as the Chief Justice of Georgia’s Supreme Court will become effective on April 1. This change comes after the current Chief Justice, Michael Boggs, announced his retirement scheduled at the end of March.

Accompanying this transition, Justice Sarah Hawkins Warren has been chosen by her peers to assume the role of presiding justice. As a result of these elections, Governor Brian Kemp is now responsible for appointing a fresh justice to fill the vacancy left by Boggs’ departure.

The Chief Justice carries the responsibility of leading Georgia’s judicial branch and is appointed to serve a single four-year term. This role involves being the representative voice for the entire judiciary of the state and overseeing the Supreme Court’s discussions. In addition, the Chief Justice heads the Judicial Council of Georgia, the body responsible for shaping judicial policy. In the absence of the Chief Justice, the presiding justice steps in to fulfill these duties and also acts as the vice-chair of the Judicial Council.

Justice Peterson joined the Supreme Court through an appointment by former Governor Nathan Deal in 2016 and later secured full six-year terms by election in 2018 and 2024. His career prior to the Supreme Court involved serving as a judge on the state Court of Appeals, the inaugural solicitor general in the state’s attorney general’s office, and working as general counsel for the University System of Georgia, as well as executive counsel to the governor.

Justice Warren’s journey to her current position also began with an appointment by Governor Deal, with her taking office in September 2018. Her subsequent election to a six-year term came in 2020. Before her tenure on the Supreme Court, she similarly held the role of solicitor general in the attorney general’s office.