Georgia Supreme Court Elects Nels Peterson Chief Justice

The Georgia Supreme Court has unanimously elected Presiding Justice Nels S.D. Peterson as the new Chief Justice, effective April 1, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs. Justice Sarah Hawkins Warren will take over Peterson's current role as Presiding Justice. Peterson, who first joined the Supreme Court in 2016, has a distinguished legal career, including positions as a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia's first solicitor general. His leadership will oversee the state's judicial branch and involve chairing the Judicial Council of Georgia, which influences court policy statewide. This change in leadership marks a significant moment for Georgia's judiciary, as Governor Brian Kemp will have the opportunity to appoint a new justice, potentially shaping the court's future composition.