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When voters take to the polls in the nonpartisan primary election on May 24, history could be made in several judicial circuits, if voters opt to elect Black male candidates to the bench. In the Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett and Southern judicial circuits, the election of a Black male superior court judge would mark the first in each circuit's history. Out of 15 contested judicial races throughout the state, Black men are running for election in one-third of the superior court races. Of the five races with Black male candidates, four could result in a Black man becoming the first to serve as a superior court judge within the respective circuit. In the Cobb Judicial Circuit, Fulton County Assistant Public Defender Charles Ford is challenging incumbent Chief Judge Robert Leonard II and running against Marietta attorney Matt McMaster. In the Douglas Judicial Circuit, attorneys Corey Martin and Ryan Williams are challenging incumbent Judge Cynthia Adams. In the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit, Lilburn attorney Andre Johnson is challenging incumbent Judge Tracie Cason. In the Southern Judicial Circuit, Thomasville lawyer Robert Moore Jr. is running against circuit Senior Assistant District Attorney Catherine Mims Smith and Valdosta attorney William Whitesell for a seat vacated by the impending retirement of Judge James Hardy. Meanwhile, in the Augusta Judicial Circuit, attorney Charles H. S. Lyons III is challenging incumbent Judge Jesse Stone for his seat on the bench, but, if elected, Lyons won't become the circuit's first Black male superior court judge. Judge John Ruffin Jr. became the circuit's first Black male superior court judge in 1986 after being appointed by then-Gov. Joe Frank Harris.

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Appointment Challenge

Black men have struggled to ascend to Georgia judgeships through appointment. Those who are selected are often placed on state court or lower benches.

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As of Dec. 22, Gov. Brian Kemp increased his judicial appointment of minorities 18% from the year prior, but white jurists continued to account for twice as many appointments to Georgia superior courts as minorities. Of nine appointments made, Kemp selected four women, two of whom are Black, and five men, one of whom is a Black senior judge. The three minority appointments are a stark difference from Kemp's 2020 appointment of 11 superior court judges, with all but one being white. Since then, the governor has appointed Judge Ralph Bailey Jr. to the Henry County State Court bench and appointed former Tifton County State Court Judge Larry Mims a senior state court judge. As Black men continue to be appointed to the bench less often than their white counterparts, elections remain a viable option through which minority candidates can become judges. Whether history is made in less than two months during the nonpartisan May 24 primary election will come down to the ultimate ballots casts by registered voters, but the candidates campaign efforts will also play a part.

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Campaign Funds

Campaign funds, or the lack thereof, can impact a judicial candidate's run for the bench. As of March 29, incumbents in each of the contested races involving Black male candidates had notably larger war chests of campaigned funds registered with the Georgia Campaign Finance System. Cobb Judicial Circuit incumbent Judge Leonard had a cash balance of $173,647.71 compared to challenger, attorney Matt McMaster's $1,738.87 cash balance. Ford's campaign did not show a cash balance. Incumbent Douglas Judicial Circuit Judge Adams had a cash balance of $22,898.03, while attorney Martin's balance showed no reported funds. A search for Williams turned up no campaign finance registration with the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission. In the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit race, incumbent Judge Cason had a cash balance of $112,815.78 compared to attorney Johnson's balance of $376.90. Meanwhile in the Augusta Judicial Circuit race, attorney Lyons' campaign cash balance of $6,050.00 proved to be the highest among the Black male challengers, but remained less than half of incumbent Judge Jesse Stone's balance of $13,302.06. But that hasn't deterred Lyons' campaign from continuing to orchestrate fundraising initiatives. In the absence of an incumbent to challenge in the Southern Judicial Circuit race, attorney Whitesell had the largest cash balance at $33,703.85 followed by Smith's balance of $11,583.32. A search for Moore turned up no campaign finance registration with the Georgia Campaign Finance Commission.