Gov. Kemp names two Rockdale County judges among judicial appointments

 Nancy N. Bills will fill the vacancy of David B. Irwin, who resigned on  Oct. 31, 2020.  Bills  currently is the State Court Judge for the Rockdale Circuit Court and presides over a DUI court. Bills holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Georgia, graduating Cum Laude. She also was the Assistant/Chief Assistant District Attorney for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit and an Associate of Walker & Waldrop, P.C. Bills is the chairperson of the Rockdale County Task Force on Family Violence, a non-profit corporation that raises public awareness to prevent domestic violence. She has served as president of the Council of State Court Judges, is a member of the Judicial Council, the Council of Accountability Court Judges, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Rockdale Bar Association. She and her husband, Jeffrey, have a daughter, Mary. The Rockdale Judicial Circuit is comprised solely of Rockdale County.

Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Nancy N. Bills to the Rockdale Judicial Circuit. He most recently served as a probate judge for the Rockdale County Probate Court. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Savannah State University, a master’s in public administration from Georgia Southern University, and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University. Previously, he worked as a managing partner for Cuthpert & Associates, P.C., associate city attorney for the City of Atlanta, and associate attorney for Lester B. Johnson, III, P.C.

Jesse Stone will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Michael Annis, effective Feb. 1, 2020. Stone holds undergraduate, business, and law degrees from the University of Georgia. Since 1986, he has served as an Attorney and Managing Partner for Merrill & Stone, LLC in Waynesboro. He served in the Georgia State Senate representing District 23 from 2011-2020 and was chair of the Judiciary committee. Prior to his service in the Senate, he was elected Mayor of the City of Waynesboro. From 1990-1995, he was a Criminal Justice Instructor at East Georgia College. He is chair of the Agriculture Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, a member of the Augusta Circuit Bar Association, the Federalist Society, and the Middle Judicial Circuit Bar Association. He and his wife, Amanda, have three children: Drew, Sarah, and Laura. The Augusta Judicial Circuit is comprised of Burke, Columbia, and Richmond Counties.

Dick Perryman will fill the vacancy of Howard McLain, who retired on Aug. 31, 2020. Perryman holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery and law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. He has previously served as an Associate Attorney for Clyatt, Clyatt, & Golden, LLC, Partner with Hamilton & Perryman, LLC, and District Attorney for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit. Perryman is a board member of the Boys and Girls Club and Friends of the Library. He has served as a board member of Family Connections/Communities in Schools and as a City Councilmember for the City of Nashville, Georgia. He has one son, Shep. The Alapaha Judicial Circuit is comprised of Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier Counties.

Rosemary Greene will fill the vacancy of David K. Smith, who retired on Oct. 31, 2020. Greene holds a bachelor’s degree from LaGrange College and law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. She previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Blue Ridge and Cherokee Judicial Circuits. She also was the District Attorney for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit from 2013-2021. She and her husband, Mark, have two children: Stan and Mary. The Cherokee Judicial Circuit is comprised of Bartow and Gordon Counties.

Carletta Sims Brown will fill the vacancy created by the passing of the Honorable William Jennings. Brown holds a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and law degree from Marquette University Law School. She most recently served as a managing attorney for Sims Brown Law, LLC, with offices in Marietta and Augusta. Sims previously served as a magistrate judge for the Cobb County Magistrate Court, a staff attorney for the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, and as a managing attorney with Sims & Associates P.C. She has also held legal positions in the Cobb County Attorney’s Office and the City of Union City. She and her husband, Wayne, live in Augusta and have two children: Thandiwe and Chinue.