Judge Ronnie Thompson will fill the seat on the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit created by the passage of HB 786 during the 2020 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Governor Brian Kemps office made the announcement of Judge Thompson's appointment on Friday, January 7, 2022.
Judge Thompson will join three other Ogeechee Circuit Judges, Judge Gates Peed, Judge Michael Muldrew and Judge Lovett Bennett.
The Ogeechee Judicial Circuit covers Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins and Screven Counties.
Judge Ronnie Thompson has served as an Effingham County State Court Judge since January 2003, and previously worked as a practicing attorney for 13 years specializing in criminal defense, civil litigation, and real estate transactions.
Judge Thompson received the Champion of Justice Award from the Georgia Council of State Court Judges for his handling of Jane Doe v. USA Gymnastics.
Judge Thompson received his Bachelors of Arts in History from Armstrong State College and received his Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law.
Appointment Process
In August the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) for the State of Georgia, established by Executive Order of Governor Brian P. Kemp, engaged in the process of receiving names of persons to fill a new judgeship on the Superior Court of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit.
On September 21, 2021 the Judicial Nominating Commission submitted to Governor Kemp recommendations to fill a vacancy within the Superior Court of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit.
The JNC's recommendations for the judgeship were Judge Ronnie Thompson of Effingham, Martha Hall and Matthew Hube, both from Bulloch County.
