Chief Justice Gunter retires and three are nominated to fill his seat

BLAIRSVILLE, GA – Superior Court Chief Judge N. Stanley Gunter officially retired on Sept. 30 and three –one judge and two lawyers – have been nominated to take his place.

“My experience as a superior judge, it’s been great,” said Gunter, “I’ve enjoyed my colleagues that I’ve worked with, especially the two [judges] that are in this circuit.”

He expressed a true enjoyment for the role and the cases he heard over the years. Gunter became a judge in 2012 and earned the chief judge title in 2018 after Chief Judge Murphy C. Miller resigned. The Enotah Judicial Circuit consists of three Superior Court Judgeships.

“I really hate leaving it, but at the same time, this is the right time for me and for my family,” stated Gunter.

Judge Raymond George and Judge Joy Parks remain on the bench. Governor Brian Kemp will fill the appointment.

Enotah Judicial Circuit Nominees

Judicial Nominating Commission nominated three individuals to fill the position.

• Jeremy D. Clough – Judge, Juvenile Courts, Enotah Judicial Circuit.
• T. Buckley “Buck” Levins – Senior Assistant District Attorney, Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit.
• Kerry B. Morris – Special Assistant Attorney General, Department of Family and Children Services; attorney, Law Office of Todd L. Lord.

Gunter told Fetch Your News that he has full faith in the Governor’s ability to choose the right person for the job and in whoever gets the job.

“I think all three of them are qualified, good temperament, knowledgable…I don’t think the gov. can make a mistake,” explained Gunter.

Gov. Kemp is expected to decide by the end of the year. The term has three years before the new judge would need to run for the office. Kemp does have the ability to pick someone, not on the nomination list. All nominees have ties with the Enotah Judicial Circuit.

Clough started in Enotah’s DA office in 2003 until becoming a juvenile court judge in 2015.

Levins also served in Enotah’s DA office until being transferred to the Tallapoosa Circuit earlier in 2019.

Morris spent eight years as a senior assistant to the district attorney in White County and is now working in private practice.

Judge Gunter’s History

Before serving as Superior Court Judge, Gunter spent over a decade as the Enotah Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney before he left office in 2010. He accepted a position with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia, where he remained until applying for the vacant judgeship in 2012. Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Gunter to the position.

Gunter passed the Georgia State Bar in 1986, and his father World War II Veteran and Mountain Judicial Circuit Judge Jack Norman Gunter swore him in to practice law.

The Mountain Judicial Circuit consisted of Union, Towns, Rabun, Stephens, and Habersham until Union, Towns, Lumpkin, and White formed the Enotah Judicial Circuit in 1992.

The reasoning behind Gunter’s retirement consists of multiple reasons family, economics, and health. He became eligible to draw retirement in May after his 60th birthday.

Gunter wants to spend more time with his family but is firmly committed to remaining in Union County with his wife, Rita. They have lived here for 37 years.

On Oct, 1, Raymond George became the Chief Superior Court Justice for the Enotah Judicial Circuit.