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GRIFFIN – Griffin Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Christopher Charles Edwards met with Governor Brian Kemp today and officially resigned from the bench after 22 years. Edwards will resume a private jury trial practice.
In his announcement Edwards said, “Serving the people of Georgia these past two decades has been the great honor of my life... The time has come to return to my roots. I leave knowing that the Griffin Judicial Circuit is in good shape and good hands.”
The Griffin Circuit includes the counties of Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson. Edwards was elected in a five-candidate race in 1998 and re-elected five times. He is leaving the judiciary with nearly two years remaining in his current term.
Pike County Times reported in December that Governor Brian Kemp is authorized by law to appoint a replacement judge for the remainder of Edwards' four-year term that will officially end on December 31, 2022. Until a replacement judge is appointed, the state will use the salary that would have been paid to Edwards, to instead pay retired senior judges to handle Edwards’ cases.
GRIFFIN - Griffin Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Christopher Charles Edwards has announced that he will resume practicing law as a jury trial lawyer after departing from his twenty-two year judgeship at a date not yet determined, before his term ends December 31, 2022.
He made the following statement: “This is my step toward the privilege and honor of resuming my career as a jury trial lawyer. My twenty-two years as a Superior Court judge is two years past the maximum time of twenty years the law encourages a judge to serve. Since a full time judge cannot also practice law, I must end my service as a judge to practice as a lawyer again…”
The Griffin Circuit includes four counties: Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson. Judge Edwards was elected in a five candidate race in 1998, and was re-elected without opposition in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
Governor Brian Kemp will be authorized by law to appoint a replacement judge to serve for the remaining period of Judge Edwards’ four-year term. The time for appointment of a replacement judge is at the governor’s discretion. Until a replacement judge is appointed, the state will use the salary that would have been paid to Judge Edwards, to instead pay retired senior judges to handle Judge Edwards’ cases.