Christian Coomer (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

After eight years in the Georgia House of Representatives, Majority Whip Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, is closing the book on his political career and preparing to start his judicial career.

Coomer will be sworn in at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday—his 44th birthday—as a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals. Gov. Nathan Deal will do the honors, having appointed Coomer to replace Judge Charlie Bethel—now the newest justice on the Georgia Supreme Court. Both Coomer and Bethel are former legislative floor leaders for the governor: Coomer in the House and Bethel in the Senate. House Speaker David Ralston will make the introduction.

In a conversation Friday, Coomer seemed to feel the energy of stepping out of one world and into another.

“It was a tough decision. It was a soul-searching decision and one I didn't take lightly,” Coomer said. “I've always seen myself as an attorney and a legal mind first. I've brought that expertise with me to the General Assembly. It's helped me navigate those waters.”

Coomer said he has had mixed feelings about leaving politics behind for the nonpartisan role of a judge. A few times since his appointment last month, he said, “I've written social media posts and then deleted them.” What may be entirely appropriate for a party leader in the Legislature would not be so for a judge, he added.

But he said he is ready to make the transition.

“I will miss politics. And I will not miss politics,” Coomer said. “I enjoyed the debate and the discussion. But, to me, I wouldn't want to make a lifetime out of it. It's very stressful. It's collegial but very conflictual. I'm happy for that experience. I think it will inform me in the way I do the work of a judge. But I'm also happy to be leaving that behind and moving on to something new.”

Also Friday, Coomer was handling the last details of cases before closing up his law office on West Main Street in Cartersville. He said he plans to continue his work as a JAG officer in the Air Force reserves, where he has served since 2001—just a couple of years out of the University of Georgia law school—starting with four years in active duty as a JAG. That work has included prosecution of criminal matters, administrative hearings, employment and labor disputes, and representing a military hospital. “It's a pretty broad experience,” Coomer said. “It really helped me kind of develop into a more well-rounded attorney over the years.”

Although he will return to it later, Coomer said he has “buttoned down” his JAG duties for a while to focus on learning his new job as a judge. His first day in chambers will be Monday—without pay—for interviews with potential law clerks. His first official day on the new job will be Thursday.

Coomer said he has submitted his resignation from the House to be effective upon his swearing-in as a judge on Wednesday. Since he is already on the ballot for reelection, the state will hold a special election to replace him.

One of the announced candidates for that opening will be in the House chambers for Coomer's swearing-in ceremony. That is his father, Ken Coomer, a minister and former Marine who also lives in Cartersville.

Coomer said Cartersville also has become home to his wife's parents and grandparents and siblings on both sides. Chris and Heidi Coomer—who met in college at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee—settled in Cartersville after he returned from active duty in the Air Force.

Coomer said Cartersville—about an hour north of Atlanta—is both close enough to and far enough from the city and has good schools and neighborhoods. But he figures the big draw for the extended family is the grandchildren. Chris and Heidi Coomer have two teenaged sons and a 2-year-old daughter. All will be in attendance Wednesday.