Don Thompson is the new Superior Court judge in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit.
Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Thompson, a Summerville attorney, to the position Monday. He replaces Jon "Bo" Wood, who retired from the bench in September.
The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit covers the most northwestern part of Georgia: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties.
"I can assure the citizens of our circuit that I will serve in this capacity with the utmost integrity and transparency," Thompson said in a news release. "This is a position that carries with it an enormous responsibility to further the public good through the fair and impartial distribution of justice under the law. I humbly accept this responsibility."
According to the resume he submitted to apply for the job, Thompson graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1997 before working at Bruce & Thompson LLC. He said in his application he felt the judicial circuit needed a case assignment system, in which the judges each take specific civil and criminal cases and preside over them until the cases are closed.
Right now, judges are assigned specific days for civil and pretrial criminal hearings. Whatever cases come before them that day, they look into. Thompson also said in his application that he believes the circuit should add accountability courts - like drug court and a court for military veterans.
Deal appointed Thompson over Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herbert "Buzz" Franklin, who interviewed for the job Thursday. Attorneys David Dunn, Keith Edwards and Michael Giglio also applied for the job but were not chosen for interviews with the governor.
Attorney Kenneth Bruce, attorney William Lundy, Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader, attorney Larry Stagg and Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters nominated Thompson for the position. Thompson's law firm has also been politically active over the years, donating a combined $19,800 to Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Deal and state Sen. Jeff Mullis since 2010.
Judge Kristina Cook Graham, who also works in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, praised Deal's decision Tuesday.
"I'm delighted at the appointment of Don Thompson," she said. "Mr. Thompson is a good man, a fine lawyer and I think he will be a great asset to our Superior Court bench."
Thompson will join the bench at a tumultuous period among judges in the circuit. With Wood's retirement, Graham and Judge Ralph Van Pelt Jr. have been vying for the chief judge position, which would give them authority over the circuit.
Wood appointed Graham as his replacement days before he retired. But the week after he left his post, Van Pelt and Judge Brian House held a three-person vote about who should be the chief, saying Wood's order did not hold weight. The two then voted to appoint Van Pelt to the position.
Van Pelt said he expects to hold another vote now that Thompson has been named the replacement - though the judges have to wait until Deal swears Thompson in, which has not yet been scheduled.
"That's the intention," Van Pelt said of holding another vote. "After he's sworn in."
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LetsJett.