Gov. Kemp announces five judicial appointments

Governor Kemp names four court appointments, including future intentions to appoint a Houston District Attorney.

Release:

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced four court appointments and his intention to appoint a district attorney for the Houston judicial district.

Judge Charles E. Bailey will serve in the DeKalb County State Court seat previously held by the Honorable Kimberly Alexander, who was appointed to the DeKalb County State Court Jury Division effective August 31, 2021. Ana Maria Martinez becomes that of the Venerable Dax Lopez. Judge Ronnie Thompson will take the seat on the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit created by the passing of HB 786 during the 2020 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Judge Richard Read will take the seat in Rockdale County State Court created by the passing of SB 508 during the 2020 Georgia General Assembly session. Ultimately, Governor Kemp intends to appoint Mr. William Kendall as District Attorney for the Houston District Court. This vacancy arose through the resignation of George H. Hartwig, III.

Charles E. Bailey joined Charlie E. Bailey’s law firm in 2010 as the sole attorney and as a registered neutral with the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. He has also been a Judge in Decatur City Court since 2016 and Deputy Judge in the State Court of DeKalb County, Traffic Division since 2016. From 2013 to 2015, Bailey was an associate judge at DeKalb County Recorders Court. He was previously an attorney at Warner Mayoue Bates, PC, from 2002 to 2010. Bailey received his Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and his doctorate in law from Vanderbilt Law School.

Ana Maria Martinez joined DeKalb State Court Division Six in May 2013 as an associate attorney for the Honorable Dax E. Lopez. She is also the President of the Latino Law Foundation. She previously worked as an attorney at Owen, Gleaton, Egan, Jones & Sweeney, LLP from 2009-2013. She has held various leadership positions at Georgia State Bar, as well as the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, and DeKalb Bar Association. She has been named a 40 Under 40 Award winner by both the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. She received her BBA, cum laude, in marketing from the University of Georgia in 2004 and her JD, cum laude and Pro Bono honors, from Georgia State University College of Law in 2009. She is a barrister at the Lamar Inn of Court and a LEAD Atlanta graduate.

Ronnie Thompson has been a Judge at Effingham County State Court since January 2003, having previously practiced law for 13 years specializing in criminal defense, civil litigation and real estate transactions. Thompson received the Champion of Justice Award from the Georgia Council of State Court justices for his handling of Jane Doe versus USA Gymnastics. Thompson received his Bachelor of Arts in history from Armstrong State College and his doctorate in law from the Cumberland School of Law.

Richard Read served as the senior assistant district attorney for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit since August 2018, and previously served as the district attorney from January 1999 to December 2017. Before that, he also worked as a lawyer at Schneider, Read and LaMalva from November 1996 to December 2017. December 1998 and was Chief Assistant District Attorney for the Rockdale Judicial Circuit from June 1992 to October 1996. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has also been a mock trial coach at the Georgia high school since 2008. Read received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Georgia and a PhD in law from the University of Georgia School of Law.

William Kendall served as Assistant District Attorney for the Houston Judicial District since March 2021, previously serving as Assistant District Attorney from April 2019 to March 2021. Kendall also served as Assistant District Attorney for the Cordele Judicial District from December 2018 to March 2020. Prior to his legal career, he served as a Marine Criminal Investigator from 2009-2013 and as a Marine Military Police / Military Working Dog Handler from 2006-2009. Kendall received his BS in Homeland Security and Public Safety from Vincennes University and his doctorate in law from Southern Illinois University School of Law.

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