[caption id="attachment_93400" align="alignnone" width="767"]Judge in a black robe. Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com (Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_93520" align="alignright" width="200"]Judge Peggy Walker received the Inspiration Award for unsung devotion to those most in need. Judge Peggy Walker. (Courtesy photo)[/caption] After 29 years of service, Douglas County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Peggy H. Walker stepped down from the bench in 2019. In just over a week, the retired judge will again be able to don her black robe. Following an appointment by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday, Walker will begin serving as a senior juvenile court judge, effective July 15. Joining Walker in achieving senior judge status this year are retired State Court Judges Jeannette L. Little of Troup County, Patricia W. Booker of Richmond County and Larry B. Mims of Tift County. Kemp also appointed retired Superior Court Judges Mary Staley Perry, David B. Irwin and David T. Emerson as senior judges.

Retired Judges Appointed Senior Status In 2022

[caption id="attachment_93522" align="alignleft" width="200"]Douglas County Superior Court Chief Judge David T. Emerson. Courtesy photo Senior Judge David T. Emerson, Superior Courts of Georgia. (Courtesy photo)[/caption] Like many others, when Douglas Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge David T. Emerson announced his retirement plans to Kemp, he sought senior judicial status. "I have asked the governor to appoint me to serve as a senior judge," Emerson told the Daily Report last November. "I love trying serious felony cases. So I'm going to hope to find opportunities to try serious felonies." In the seven months since he secured senior status on Jan. 10, Emerson said he's kept busy helping judicial circuits throughout the state tackle their backlogs of serious felony cases. "I actually did an 11-day, five-defendant murder case in Columbus during March into April," Emerson said. "The defendants had been in jail 3½ years." As a senior judge, Emerson said he's presided over cases in multiple counties including Cobb, Floyd, Forsyth, Haralson and Muscogee. After traveling to sit on the bench in each, the senior judge pointed out substantial differences in court operations, staffing and judicial assistance. From gaining physical access to secured areas of larger court buildings to obtaining wi-fi connectivity and court case management system access, Emerson said he's faced some new challenges as a traveling judge. He noted adjusting to judicial life without a guaranteed law clerk has been eye-opening. "In [the] Cobb [Judicial Circuit Superior Court], they have a tremendous superior senior judge support system," Emerson said. "They have law clerk available. They have staff that is available to help with scheduling." In comparison, he noted that in the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit he'd corresponded directly with the superior court clerk to schedule proceedings in an upcoming case. But his scheduling responsibilities haven't stopped there. Without the aid of administrative assistants afforded to active judges, the senior judge said he now organizes all his court appearances. Emerson said he's also continued to write all his own orders. Logistically challenging at times, Emerson said he's enjoying the flexibility senior judgeship provides. With many more backlogged cases in the queue to be heard, Emerson said there's no shortage of opportunities to don his black robe. A number of judges have reached out requesting he try murder cases in their jurisdictions, he added. "It's kind of like having a part-time job that you can work when you feel like it," Emerson said. "I think it's excellent. I've been able to take three vacations this year, too."