Kemp Names Prosecutor As New Bulloch State Court Judge

After an extended vacancy, Governor Brian Kemp has named the replacement state court judge for Bulloch County after the mid-term departure of Judge Gary Mikell.

According to a news release issued Friday by the Governor’s Office, current State Court Solicitor Joseph Cushner has been named to the state court post that’s been filled by an interim judge since last September.

The vacancy nominations have been open since July 2019. The Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC) announced in August that Cushner, V. Sharon “Sharri” Edenfield – solo practitioner of Edenfield Law, LLC, and Benjamin T. Edwards – Assistant District Attorney, Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, had each submitted their names for the position.

From the new release:

Cusher also formerly worked for Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.

Under Georgia law, an assistant state court solicitor is responsible for fulfilling the duties of the office following Cushner’s resignation from the solicitor’s position. In the event that no qualified person already employed as an assistant solicitor is willing or able to serve, the presiding judge may request the assistance of the district attorney of the judicial circuit in which such county is located or another solicitor-general of a state court to prosecute cases until a solicitor-general is appointed or elected and qualified.

Both the state court judge seat and the solicitor’s position are up for election in 2020. Cushner will have an (I) for incumbent next to his name on the ballot if he chooses to continue in the position and seek a full term.