A press release states that Chief Justice Hugh P. Thompson will be stepping down from the Georgia Supreme Court in January, 2017 after a new Chief Justice is sworn into office. Chief Justice Thompson has been on the Supreme Court since March 1, 1994 by appointment by Governor Zell Miller.
His term was slated to end in August, 2017, but the press release states that Chief Justice Thompson is stepping down in part to “fulfill a pledge he made to Presiding Justice P. Harris Hines so that Hines will have more time as Chief Justice before his retirement in 2018.”
Chief Justice Thompson:
“Our Court is undergoing significant change. We will have two new justices coming on board in January as our Court grows from seven to nine justices. I believe that selecting my successor so he or she can start at the same time will make for a smoother transition.
It has been the fulfillment of dreams. I have loved every minute of it and have been privileged to serve with the most dedicated, committed and talented group of jurists in the nation.”