A new chief justice for the Georgia Supreme Court will be sworn in Tuesday, September 4.
Harold D. Melton will be sworn in as the state’s new Chief Justice at the State Capitol. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will introduce him, David Nahmias will also be sworn in as the new Presiding Judge.
The investiture will take place at 11 am in the House Chamber. Outgoing Chief Justice P. Harris Hines, who is retiring after 44 years on the bench, will swear in both the new Chief and Presiding Justice.
The Chief Justice is the head of Georgia’s judicial branch of government. He presides over oral arguments and is the spokesman for this state’s highest court. The Presiding Justice fills in for the Chief Justice when necessary. Both are elected to the positions by their fellow justices and serve a four-year term.
Chief Justice Melton will preside over oral arguments for the first time on Sept. 10. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, he will preside over a Supreme Court whose nine members will include three new justices, one of whom is yet to be named.
The ceremony will be live-streamed, visit www.legis.ga.gov and select “Live Broadcasts.”