Walt Davis of Jones Day, Atlanta, was named judge for the new Business Court for the state of Georgia. (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

Gov. Brian Kemp put forward Jones Day partner Walter Davis Monday to be the judge in charge of the new statewide business court.

Kemp unveiled his choice to lead the new special purpose court for complex business litigation in a 3:30 p.m. news conference in the governor's ceremonial office at the Georgia Capitol. Gathered with them were members of the judiciary, including Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton and Georgia Court of Appeals Chief Judge Chris McFadden.

The nomination is subject to the approval of the judiciary committees of the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives, as provided in the enabling legislation, House Bill 239.

Kemp called the new court a “common-sense, pro-business measure to allow businesses to resolve disputes efficiently.”

The governor said he chose the name that “kept coming up.” Kemp said Davis brings to the job “a career's worth of experience in business law.”

Davis has been with Jones Day for 17 years. He's now administrative partner for the Atlanta office.

“I have but one goal: to make the court respected in this state, trusted by all who do business here,” Davis said. “My pledge to you is simple. I will serve with integrity, fairness and impartiality in all that I do.”

The bill does not preclude a superior court from creating or continuing with an existing business court division for its circuit. The new court's jurisdiction will be limited to claims greater than $500,000—except for commercial real estate, for which the floor will be $1 million.

The bill provides for the governor to appoint a judge and a clerk for the business court, both subject to approval by the Legislature's judiciary committees within three months or by the end of the year. The judge will appoint law assistants and staff for the court. The court's venue is to be Atlanta, Macon or other locations as deemed appropriate.

The constitutional amendment question approved on the ballot in 2018 was: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to create a state-wide business court, authorize superior court business court divisions, and allow for the appointment process for state-wide business court judges in order to lower costs, improve the efficiency of all courts, and promote predictability of judicial outcomes in certain complex business disputes for the benefit of all citizens of this state?”