Politics & Government
Kemp Appoints Deah Warren To Replace Former Longtime Douglas County Judge David Emerson
Deah Warren was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to replace longtime Judge David Emerson, who resigned Dec. 31, a year before his term expired.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — Douglas County's longest-tenured judge resigned at the end of last year, and now Gov. Brian Kemp has named a replacement: Deah Warren, the county's chief assistant district attorney.
Kemp announced the decision Thursday, filling the vacancy of former Douglas County Superior Court Judge David Emerson. Emerson served as a judge for 31 years, but stepped down Dec. 31 to spend more time with family — a year before his term expired.
Warren served in the chief assistant DA role since January 2021, and previously served as deputy chief assistant district attorney for the Major Case Unit and a senior assistant district attorney. Warren also worked in the DA's offices for Fulton and Clayton counties, according to a governor's news release.
Find out what's happening in Douglasvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Warren received her juris doctorate from Georgia State University, as well as a bachelor's degree in computer science from Spelman College.
She was having lunch in downtown Douglasville last week when her phone rang, she told the Douglas County Sentinel.
Find out what's happening in Douglasvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Right then, I started tearing up," Warren told the news outlet. "I'm extremely grateful that the governor trusted me with this role."
Warren will serve for two years before facing an election in 2024. She'll be sworn in March 16 in a ceremony at Kemp's office.
"We are so excited about Chief Assistant District Attorney Deah Warren’s appointment to serve as a Superior Court Judge in Douglas County. We are even more excited about the phenomenal work that Deah will do as Judge Warren," Douglas County DA Dalia Racine said in a statement. "Her commitment to justice, her dedication to upholding the law, and her heart for serving others will have a lasting impact for all the members of our community. While it is bitter-sweet to see her leave, we couldn’t be more grateful for the tremendous contributions she has made to our office over the years."
Related:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
