Gov. Brian Kemp has named Griffin Circuit District Attorney Benjamin Coker as a superior court judge in the Griffin Judicial Circuit south of Atlanta. 

Coker fills a new slot on the circuit bench created by the Georgia General Assembly last year. Kemp made the announcement Friday.

Coker earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Georgia State University. He couldn't be reached for comment.

The governor also named Coker's chief assistant DA, Maria Broder, as the new district attorney. Broder earned both her bachelor's and J.D. degrees from UGA.

The circuit, which includes Fayette, Spalding, Upson and Pike counties, currently has four judges. One of them, Superior Court Judge Robert M. "Mack" Crawford, was suspended in 2018 after he was indicted on felony charges including theft and violating his oath of office.

Crawford pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft last week for stealing $5,765 from the Pike County court registry and was sentenced to 12 months probation.