Jefferson attorney appointed to serve as state court judge

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday appointed a Jefferson attorney to serve as the next judge of Jackson County State Court, succeeding a judge who passed away while on the bench.

Robert D. Alexander, 36, of Jefferson, fills the judicial vacancy created by the Oct. 8 death of State Court Judge Jerry Clinton Gray.

Alexander, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English and history from Presbyterian College in South Carolina and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law, currently serves as the judge for the city of Jefferson’s Municipal Court. He is also a partner with the Davidson, Hopkins & Alexander law firm in Jefferson.

Alexander is married with two children. He is expected to be sworn in within the next two weeks, officials said.

Gray, who was 58 years old at the time of his unexpected death, served as a judge for 15 years, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. He previously served as a public defender and a private practice attorney, the newspaper has reported.

The Jackson County State Court judge and solicitor are part-time positions. Gray had long advocated to make the posts full time.