Governor appoints two Chattahoochee Circuit Superior Court judges | Latest News | Columbus Ledger Enquirer

A local attorney who has been in private practice for more than 30 years and a longtime State Court judge were appointed Superior Court judges Monday by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.

Ron Mullins, a partner in Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C., and State Court Judge Maureen C. Gottfried were appointed to the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit bench, the governor’s office confirmed.

Also a finalist, Solicitor General Benjamin S. Richardson was appointed to the State Court judgeship vacated by Gottfried. The governor’s office did not immediately announce a replacement for Richardson.

The five finalists from 22 applicants were interviewed by Deal last Wednesday in Atlanta. District Attorney Julia Slater and Chief Assistant District Attorney Alonza Whitaker were among the finalists.

The appointment comes amid a call from former Judge John Allen, who spent two decades as a Muscogee County Superior Court judge before retiring in October, for Deal to consider gender and racial diversity in his selections. Allen was the lone black Superior Court judge in the circuit that included no women judges.

Gottfried will be the first woman on the Superior Court bench since Roxanne Daniel was defeated by Bobby Peters in 2004. Mullins is a white male. Richardson is black.

Allen, now a senior judge, had praise for all three appointments.

“Judge Gottfried is imminently qualified to be Superior Court judge, and the gender diversity is a much-needed addition,” Allen said. “Ben Richardson is imminently qualified to be Superior Court judge and State Court judge. Ron Mullins is a highly experienced lawyer with impeccable character and excellent temperament.”

Diversity on the bench is important for public perception, but it is more important to be able to do the job, Gottfried said.

“The public does see the bench, and how it is made up,” Gottfried said. “I don’t think that should ever be the deciding factor. I think the deciding factor should be if you are qualified. The people on the bench should be qualified.”

Gottfried and Richardson both have taken well-worn paths to the State and Superior court benches. A number of recent Superior Court judges, including Allen, moved up from State Court. State Court Judge Andy Prather, Gottfried, former Superior Court Judge Daniel and retired Superior Court Judge Kenneth Followill came out of the solicitor general’s office.

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