Governor Perdue Announces Judicial Appointments

Governor Perdue Announces Judicial Appointments

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following six judicial appointments.

• John F. Doran, Jr. – State Court of Gwinnett County.  The vacancy was created by HB1264.
• Louis J. “Jack” Kirby – Superior Court of the Coweta Judicial Circuit.
• Katherine K. Lumsden – Superior Court of the Houston Judicial Circuit.
• Martha Ellen McElyea – Superior Court of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.
• Tommy J. Smith – State Court of Toombs County.  The vacancy was created by the resignation of Judge Malcolm F. Bryant.
• Kenneth G. Vinson – Superior Court of the Paulding Judicial Circuit

The superior court vacancies were created by HB1073.  Brief biographies are provided below:

John F. Doran, Jr., 55, Lawrenceville, GA – Doran has practiced law in Lawrenceville, Georgia since 1977.  He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Gwinnett County Bar Association, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the Lawyers Club of Atlanta.  Doran earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and his law degree from Emory University.  He and his wife, Wanda, have four children.

Louis J. “Jack” Kirby, 53, LaGrange, GA – Kirby is president/partner of Kirby & Roberts, P.C. in LaGrange, Georgia.  He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Troup County Bar Association and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.  Kirby earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Cumberland School of Law.  He and his wife, Monique, have two children. 

Katherine K. Lumsden, 35, Perry, GA – Lumsden is the chief assistant district attorney for the Houston Judicial Circuit.  She is a member of the Houston County Bar Association, Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia and National District Attorney’s Association.  Lumsden earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.  She is married to Derrek Lumsden.

Martha Ellen McElyea, 46, Canton, GA – McElyea has served as a juvenile court judge in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit since January 2000.  She is a judicial advisory member of the State Board of Juvenile Justice and a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Cherokee Bar Association, Lawyer’s Foundation of Georgia and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.   McElyea earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Furman University and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Tommy J. Smith, 36, Vidalia, GA – Smith is sole practitioner in Vidalia, Georgia.  He is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and the Georgia Association of Solicitors General.  Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Georgia Southern University and a law degree for the University of Georgia School of Law.  He and his wife, Catalina, have two children.  

Kenneth G. Vinson, 60, Dallas, GA – Vinson is a partner with the law office of Vinson, Talley, Richardson & Cable.  He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, Paulding County Bar Association, Paulding County Chamber of Commerce and the Paulding County Rotary Club.  Vinson earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University, a master’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.  He and his wife, Sharon, have four children and four grandchildren.

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