Local lawyers can now apply for the State Court judge position in Catoosa County, Ga.
Robert Kauffman, president of the State Bar of Georgia, emailed lawyers in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit on Wednesday afternoon, telling them the job is now officially open. Interested candidates can apply to the Judicial Nominating Commission, located in Atlanta.
Lawyers can nominate themselves or others. Members of the public also can nominate potential judges.
The State Court in Catoosa County is supposed to open July 1. The state Legislature voted to create the new local office in March 2015. The State Court will handle misdemeanor and traffic cases, in theory freeing up the Superior Court and the district attorney’s office to handle more heinous felony cases – bringing them to trial sooner.
Finding a judge to handle the State Court cases has taken longer in Catoosa County than in some other parts of Georgia. Since Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill creating the State Court on May 5, the Judicial Nomination Commission has recommended judges for the governor to appoint for 12 other vacancies.