In this Monday, March 28, 2016, file photo, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal speaks during a news conference in Atlanta to announce he has vetoed legislation allowing clergy to refuse performing gay marriage and protecting people who refuse to attend the ceremonies.Fort Oglethorpe City Manager Ron Goulart will be Catoosa County’s first state court judge.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal called Goulart at 10 a.m. Thursday to tell him he got the job, edging out Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Chris Arnt and Public Defender David Dunn. Goulart said he is not sure when he will officially take the bench because he has to be sworn in first.
Arnt, Dunn and Goulart all interviewed Wednesday with Deal in Atlanta.
“I was a little sort of shocked, I guess, in a way,” Goulart said. “I wasn’t expecting to receive a call this morning. I guess I certainly wasn’t expecting to receive a call from the governor himself.”
The Georgia General Assembly created Catoosa County’s state court during its session last year. The court could have launched as early as July 1 of this year, but the governor had not appointed the necessary positions. Deal still needs to pick a solicitor, and he will interview Ringgold attorney Shawn Bible and Assistant Public Defender Doug Woodruff on Monday.