Governor Perdue Announces Judicial Appointments

Governor Perdue Announces Judicial Appointments

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following five judicial appointments:

• Patricia W. Booker – State Court of Richmond County
• Donald W. Gillis – Superior Court of the Dublin Judicial Circuit
• T. Harry Hurt – Superior Court of the Cordele Judicial Circuit
• Carlton LeTain “Tain” Kell, Sr.– Superior Court of the Cobb Judicial Circuit
• Murphy C. Miller – Superior Court of the Enotah Judicial Circuit

The superior court vacancies were created by the Georgia General Assembly in 2007 through HB 118 and the state court vacancy through SB 107.  Brief biographies are provided below:

Patricia W. Booker, 55, Augusta, GA – Booker is Of Counsel with Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP. Prior to joining Kilpatrick Stockton, she was a partner with Knox & Zacks. She established and operated a medical business management company that provided billing and business consultation services for physicians and previously served as an Assistant District Attorney. She is a member of the Augusta Symphony Guild, Leadership Augusta and the Entrepreneur Committee of Augusta Chamber of Commerce. Booker received her bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, David, have two children.

Donald W. Gillis, 54, Dublin, GA – Gillis presently holds the Office of State Court Judge of Treutlen County and is a partner with the firm of Nelson, Gillis & Dixon, LLC.  He was admitted to practice law before the Georgia Court of Appeals, Georgia Supreme Court, United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia and the Middle District of Georgia.  Gillis earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Mercer University.  He and his wife, Laura, have two children.

T. Harry Hurt, 60, Cordele, GA – Hurt has been a practicing attorney with Hurt and Associates since 2000. He is the former president and CEO of Hurt Motor Company. He is a member and past president of Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce and a board member with the Cordele Rotary Club. Hurt earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Mercer University. He and his wife, Kay, have four children.

Carlton LeTain “Tain” Kell, Sr., 45, Marietta, GA – Kell has been a member of Brock, Clay, Calhoun & Rogers, P.C. since 2000, and a shareholder with the firm since 2002. Previously, Kell practiced with Troutman Sanders, LP. Prior to joining Troutman Sanders, Kell served as the Senior Assistant Attorney General for the Georgia Department of Law. He is a member of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors. Kell earned both his bachelor’s degree and his law degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Sheri, have one son.

Murphy C. Miller, 52, Young Harris, GA – Miller has served as the Circuit Public Defender for the Enotah Judicial Circuit since July 2004.  He is a member of the Young Harris College Board of Trustees, State Bar of Georgia, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Enotah Bar Association and Georgia Association of Public Defenders.  Miller earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and his law degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law.  He and his wife, Susan, have four children.

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