Cherokee Judge Hears Georgia Supreme Court Case

ATLANTA, GA -- Cherokee County Superior Court Judge David Cannon Jr. was tapped to serve in place of a Georgia Supreme Court judge in a case involving the city of Marietta.

Cannon heard oral arguments Tuesday morning in place of Justice Nels S.D. Peterson, who had to recuse himself, in the city of Marietta's appeal of a Georgia Court of Appeals decision in a case related to its condemnation of a resident's property.

Along with hearing the arguments, Cannon will also take part in the court's decision.

Designated judges are appointed when a justice must recuse himself or herself from a particular case. The Supreme Court of Georgia maintains a list of select judges from around the state and when the need arises, the court appoints the next judge on the list.

Cannon, 46, is serving his second term as a Superior Court judge of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit after winning the open seat when Chief Judge Frank Mills retired in 2012. Before he was elected judge, Cannon served nearly 10 years as solicitor general of Cherokee County. Before entering public office, he worked in private practice with his father, David Cannon, for seven years.

Cannon graduated from The University of Georgia with a degree in management information sciences. He received his law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in 1995.

In addition to being a 14-year member of the State Bar Board of Governors where he serves on the technology and finance committees, he is a former Cherokee County Bar Association president, and former president of the Georgia Association of Solicitors General.

He has also been a mock trial coach for Cherokee High School for more than 10 years and was named Coach of the Year in 2008. He is a board member of Cherokee FOCUS, and former steering committee member of Leadership Cherokee. He was named one of Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40” and has been the recipient of the Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award.

Judge Cannon and his wife, Jory, have two children and live in Canton.

Photo: Judge David Cannon Jr. speaks during Tuesday's oral arguments as Justice Keith Blackwell listens. Credit: Georgia Supreme Court