Governor Perdue Fills Judicial Vacancies

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today two appointments to fill judicial vacancies in the Hall County State Court and the Superior Court for the Towaliga Judicial Circuit. Judge B.E. "Gene" Roberts, III has been selected to fill the Hall County vacancy. William "Bill" Fears has been selected to fill the Towaliga vacancy.

"Both of these judicial appointees have strong legal experience and broad-based community support," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "I am confident they will exercise a common-sense approach to real life issues in their important role as judge."

The Hall County State Court vacancy was created by House Bill 836 passed during the most recent legislative session. The Towaliga Superior Court vacancy was created with the resignation of Judge Byron Smith on July 1, 2003.

The swearing-in ceremony will occur Tuesday, September 2, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. in the Georgia Senate Chamber.

Brief biographies are provided below.

William "Bill" Fears - Fears currently serves as Attorney for Butts County Water and Sewer Authority and practices law as a sole practitioner. He received a J.D. from Woodrow Wilson College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia. Fears served as City Attorney for Jackson, GA for the last four years and has practiced law consisting of domestic cases, property disputes, probate matters and criminal law.

Judge B.E. "Gene" Roberts, III - Judge Roberts currently serves in the Magistrate Court of Hall County. He holds a J.D. from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Georgia State University. Judge Roberts actively served in the United States Navy from 1987 - 1991 and retired as Lieutenant Commander in 1997. Some of his previous positions include the District Attorney's Office of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit and Thompson, Fox, Chandler & Homans, Attorneys at Law.