Crime & Safety
2 Attorneys Recommended To Replace Longtime Douglas Chief Judge
Two attorneys have been recommended from a pool of six to replace longtime Douglas Chief Superior Court Judge David Emerson, who's retiring.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — The Judicial Nominating Commission has narrowed the pool of potential replacements for Douglas County Chief Superior Court Judge David Emerson, who's stepping down and retiring and the end of the year.
Two attorneys out of the six who interviewed for the position have been recommended for the chief judge spot: Juvenile Court Associate Judge Talia J. Nurse or Chief Assistant District Attorney Deah B. Warren.
Emerson announced his decision to resign in late October to spend more time with family after serving as a judge for 31 years. The JNC accepted applications from local attorneys to fill his seat through late November, interviewed the six attorneys and will now recommend Nurse and Warren to Gov. Brian Kemp for further interviews.
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Kemp can appoint one of the two nominated candidates, or select someone else. Since Emerson is retiring early, the person appointed by Kemp won't have to go before voters until 2024.
Nurse is a University of Georgia and Southern Methodist University graduate, according to a biography on the county website. She practiced commercial litigation for five years before opening her own practice, the Law Office of Talia J. Nurse, LLC in Douglasville in 2009.
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In 2013, Nurse began representing parents and children in juvenile court-appointed cases under the Juvenile Public Defender's Office. She was appointed associate judge of Douglas County Juvenile Court by Chief Juvenile Court Judge Michelle G. Harrison, with her term starting Jan. 1, 2020.
Warren is a graduate of Georgia State University and Spelman College, the Douglas County Sentinel reported. Over the last 14 years, she's worked as an assistant solicitor general, senior assistant district attorney and deputy chief assistant district attorney in Douglas County; senior district attorney and deputy chief assistant district attorney in Clayton County; and as a senior assistant district attorney in Fulton County.
She took on her role as chief assistant district attorney after current Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine took office in January 2021.
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