Georgia Chron - Georgia: Gov. Kemp Announces Appointments to Court of Appeals, Columbia Circuit Superior Court and Solicitors General

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Atlanta, GA ~ In a recent announcement, Governor Brian P. Kemp has appointed two judges and two solicitors general to serve in various positions across the state of Georgia. These appointments come as a result of vacancies created by the removal of Court of Appeals Judge Christian Coomer on August 16, 2023.

One of the newly appointed judges is J. Wade Padgett, who will be filling the Court of Appeals vacancy. Padgett has an extensive legal background, having served as a Superior Court Judge in both the Augusta Judicial Circuit and the newly-created Columbia Judicial Circuit. Prior to his appointment to the Augusta Circuit Superior Court bench in 2009, he worked as Chief Magistrate Judge of Columbia County and maintained his own law practice. He is also actively involved in his community, serving as chair of new judge training for the Council of Superior Court Judges and creating an educational program for teens and parents called Teenage Years 101. Padgett holds a J.D. from Georgia State College of Law and a B.A. in History from the University of Georgia.

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The appointment of Padgett to the Court of Appeals creates a vacancy in the Columbia Judicial Circuit, which will now be filled by J. Grady Blanchard. Currently serving as Chief Judge for the Municipal Courts of Waynesboro and Louisville, Blanchard brings with him years of experience as an Associate Judge for both Magistrate Courts and Municipal Courts in various counties across Georgia. He is a member of several legal associations including the State Bar of Georgia, Augusta Bar Association, and Council of Municipal Court Judges. Blanchard holds a J.D. from John Marshall Law School and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Augusta State University.

In addition to these judicial appointments, Governor Kemp has also appointed Spencer Tyson as Solicitor General for Effingham County and Amy Godfrey as Solicitor General for Coweta County.

Tyson currently works as an associate attorney at Taulbee, Rushing, Snipes, Marsh and Hodgin, LLC in Statesboro. He previously served as an assistant district attorney and law clerk for the district attorney in different judicial circuits. Tyson is a member of the Bulloch County Bar Association and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He holds a J.D. from Mercer University and a B.A. in Political Science from the same institution.

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Godfrey, who has been serving as acting solicitor for the Coweta County Solicitor General's Office since January of 2024, has been appointed to the position permanently. She has been with the office since 2012, previously holding the position of Chief Assistant Solicitor. Before joining the Coweta County Solicitor General's Office, Godfrey worked as Town Solicitor for Tyrone Municipal Court and as an associate attorney at a law firm. She is a member of both the State Bar of Georgia and Newnan-Coweta Bar Association, where she served as past president. Godfrey holds a J.D. from University of Georgia School of Law and a B.S. from Charleston Southern University.

These appointments by Governor Kemp bring experienced and dedicated individuals to serve in important positions within Georgia's legal system. With their diverse backgrounds and commitment to their communities, Padgett, Blanchard, Tyson, and Godfrey are sure to make valuable contributions in their new roles.

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