Jimmy Carter’ s Influence on the Judiciary

JACQUELYN H. SAYLOR The Saylor Law Firm LLP jsaylor @ saylorlaw. com

B y the time Jimmy Carter was Governor from 1971-1975, Georgia judges were elected by popular vote. However, governors did make interim appointments. In 1972, Governor Carter established a judicial nominating commission to assist in filling interim vacancies. Such a commission still exists. Governor Carter appointed more women and minorities to his staff, the judiciary, and major state boards and agencies than all his predecessors combined. These appointments were part of Carter’ s broader initiative to ensure that Georgia’ s judiciary reflected the diversity of its population.

Governor Carter appointed the first woman to a state court, Cobb County State Court Judge Dorothy

8 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024