Northern Circuit DA In Running for Judicial Seat

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White is among 10 people being considered to fill the vacancy left by retiring Northern Judicial Circuit Chief Judge John Bailey.

Bailey retires at the end of the month.

Georgia’s Judicial Nominating Commission received applications through December 8th for the job.

Officials said the JNC hopes to begin interviewing potential candidates after the first of the year and then narrow down their list to five candidates.

Those five will then be submitted to Governor Nathan Deal, who will make a final decision.

The new judge will join the circuit’s other two judges, Thomas L. Hodges and Jeffery S. Malcom.

Judge Hodges will become the Chief Judge.

After serving on the bench in the Northern Circuit for 18 years, Bailey submitted his letter of retirement to Governor Nathan Deal in late October, according to a recent announcement by the Tenth Judicial District.

Bailey has also requested Senior Judge status, which, if awarded, would allow him to continue to serve the Superior Courts of Georgia as a retired judge to cover court when other judges are either ill or unavailable.