Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Tuesday appointed Judge Verda Colvin to fill a vacancy and serve on the state’s Supreme Court, after the resignation of Justice Harold D. Melton.
“It is an honor to appoint such an experienced and accomplished justice to our state’s Supreme Court. With Justice Colvin on the bench, Georgia’s highest court is gaining an immensely talented and principled judge who will help guide it in the years to come,” Kemp said of his decision to select Colvin.
Colvin has climbed the judicial ladder during Kemp’s tenure as governor. In 2020, Kemp appointed her to a position on the Court of Appeals of Georgia — making her the state’s first African-American female appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals by a Republican governor.
In her new position, Colvin will hold the same title, as she will be the first African-American female appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court by a Republican governor.
“The Supreme Court congratulates and welcomes Judge Colvin. Given her background and experience, including many years as a Court of Appeals and trial court judge, we are confident that she is eminently qualified to serve on the state’s highest court,” Chief Justice David E. Nahmias said in a statement.
Colvin made a name for herself after pleading with troubled youth in the court system to make better life decisions.
“You can be in this body bag. And the only way somebody will know you are in here is by this tag that’ll have your name on it. What do you want to do? That’s the question you need to ask yourself,” she said as she placed a large bag in front of the youth.
The 2016 speech was shared thousands of times on social media.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
