Deal taps Dougherty Superior Judge Stephen Goss to state Court of Appeals
Dougherty Superior Judge Stephen Goss will replace retiring Appeals Court Judge Gary B. Andrews
From Staff Reports
ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal announced appointments on Thursday to fill several judicial vacancies. Among those involved Dougherty Superior Court Judge Stephen Goss to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Goss, who is replacing the retiring Gary B. Andrews when he leaves in July, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. Goss and his wife, Dee, have three children and reside in Albany.
The other appointments made by Deal to the Court of Appeals were E. Trenton “Trent” Brown III to replace the Tilman Eugene “Tripp” Self III following Self’s appointment and confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia and Elizabeth Gobeil to fill the vacancy created by the appointment and confirmation of the Elizabeth Branch to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
The governor also announced that Andrew W. Pope will fill the solicitor general vacancy within the Thomas County State Court, and Ryan R. Leonard will fill the district attorney vacancy within the Douglas Judicial Circuit.
Brown is a superior court judge of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit and previously served as the state court judge of Putnam County. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. Brown and his wife, Jill, have two children and reside in Eatonton.
Gobeil is a director and appellate division judge with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. Gobeil and her husband, Bart, reside in Savannah.
Pope is the owner and managing attorney of Andrew W. Pope, P.C. Attorney at Law in Thomasville. He previously served as solicitor general of Thomas County from 2006-12. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southwestern State University and a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He and his wife, Brecca, have two children and reside in Thomasville.
Leonard has worked for the Douglas Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office since 2006 and has been the acting district attorney since March. He received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and a law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. Leonard and his wife, Erika, have two children and reside in Douglasville.
The appointments will take effect upon swearing in.
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