Northern Circuit Judge Retiring

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The search is on for a new Superior Court Judge in the Northern Judicial District, now that Superior Court Judge John H. Bailey has announced his retirement.

Judge Bailey is retiring effective January 1.

The Judicial Nominating Commission has been accepting nominations of persons to fill Judge Bailey’s vacancy on the Northern Judicial Circuit from both attorneys and the public.

Last Monday was the last day to submit nominations to the Commission.

The new judge will join the circuit’s other two judges.

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.

Prior to being appointed to fill the newly created judgeship in 1996, Judge Bailey served asan Assistant District Attorney in the Northern Circuit and eventually the Chief Assistant District Attorney for nearly 11 years and as a local attorney before that, according to Tenth District press release.

A graduate of John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Judge Bailey calls Elberton home where he resides with his wife Rosemary, a former school teacher.