The Georgia Supreme Court announced Tuesday it has unanimously elected Presiding Justice Harold Melton to succeed Chief Justice P. Harris Hines, who plans to retire Aug. 31.

The two justices have served in their current roles since January 2017. The typical four-year term has been cut short by the upcoming 75th birthday for Hines. Georgia appellate judges are required to retire before the month they turn 75 or forfeit their pensions.

The changing of the chiefs marks the ascent of the high court's younger generation of justices. The difference between their ages—and their bar admission dates—is 23 years.

Melton, a former assistant attorney general and governor's executive counsel, was 39 when Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed him to the high court in 2005. Within a few years, he was joined by Justice David Nahmias, who is one year older, and Justice Keith Blackwell, who was 37 when he was appointed in 2012.

Gov. Nathan Deal, who appointed Blackwell, acknowledged a conscious shift to younger judges “so they can serve longer and give the courts greater stability.”

At the same time Hines became chief and Melton became presiding justice, they were joined by three more junior justices, only one of whom is older than Melton, but not by much. Justice Michael Boggs, who moved up from the Court of Appeals, is 55. Deal, who appointed all three, swore in Boggs first to replace retiring Chief Justice Hugh Thompson, then the other two to fill newly-created positions: Justice Nels Peterson, former Court of Appeals judge, and Justice Britt Grant, former solicitor general, who were both 38 when they went on the court.

Melton has shown the ability to reach across any generational divide. His name came up as a mentor in an interview last fall with the Judicial Nominating Commission. Newly-appointed Court of Appeals Judge Clyde Reese said when the members asked him for a judicial hero that he named Melton.

“He was at the attorney general's office when I started. He was an adviser and a mentor to me,” said Reese, who is seven years older than Melton.

Melton and Hines have known each other since Melton was student body president at Auburn University and Hines was a Cobb County Superior Court judge. Hines recalled that his wife, who is from Alabama, urged him to call Melton and offer him a summer internship. “He had a better gig—working for the governor of Alabama. But he was available the next summer,” Hines recalled of Melton. “I don't know if he's like my youngest brother or my oldest son, but he's a great guy and I love him dearly.”

Melton earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia law school. He serves on the Board of Atlanta Youth Academies and is on the local and national board for Young Life youth ministry.
The court also announced Tuesday its unanimous election of Nahmias to become the new presiding justice. The presiding justice serves in the chief's absence.

Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed Nahmias to the high court in August 2009. Prior to his appointment, he served as United States Attorney in Atlanta for five years. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Nahmias served as a senior Justice Department official in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw terrorism cases. A native of Atlanta, Justice Nahmias graduated summa cum laude from Duke University and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He served as a law clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Both justices will be sworn into their new positions in a ceremony at the State Capitol in House chambers on Sept. 4.