Governor Kemp Names Six Judicial Appointments

Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp announced his appointment of Nancy N. Bills to the Rockdale Judicial Circuit, Clarence Cuthpert as State Court Judge of Rockdale County, Jesse C. Stone to the Augusta Judicial Circuit, Dick Perryman to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, Rosemary Greene to the Cherokee Judicial Circuit, and Carletta Sims Brown to the Richmond County Civil and Magistrate Court.

Nancy N. 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. She is currently the State Court Judge for the Rockdale Circuit Court and presides over a DUI court. In her spare time, Nancy is the Chairperson of the Rockdale County Task Force on Family Violence, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation to raise public awareness and 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. Nancy is married to her husband, Jeffrey, and she has one daughter, Mary.

Bills will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable David B. Irwin, effective October 31, 2020. The Rockdale Judicial Circuit is comprised solely of Rockdale county.

Clarence Cuthpert, Jr. 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. He most recently served as a probate judge for the Rockdale County Probate Court. 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. Clarence resides in Conyers with his wife, Crystal, and they have one son.

Cuthpert will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Nancy N. Bills to the Rockdale Judicial Circuit.

Jesse Stone holds his undergraduate, business, and law degrees from the University of Georgia. Since 1986, Jesse 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 is married to his wife Amanda and has three children: Drew, Sarah, and Laura.

Stone will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Michael Annis, effective February 1, 2020. The Augusta Judicial Circuit is comprised of Burke, Columbia, and Richmond Counties.

Dick 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. In his spare time, 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.

Perryman will fill the vacancy created by the reitrement of the Honorable Howard McLain, effective August 31, 2020. The Alapaha Judicial Circuit is comprised of Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier Counties.

Rosemary 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 is married to her husband, Mark, and she has two children: Stan and Mary.

Greene will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable David K. Smith, effective October 31, 2020. The Cherokee Judicial Circuit is comprised of Bartow and Gordon Counties.

Carletta Sims 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.

Sims will fill the vacancy created by the passing of the Honorable William Jennings in March.