When Gov. Nathan Deal’s declared winter storm state of emergency began at noon Friday, he was in the packed chambers of the Georgia House of Representatives taking care of some previously scheduled business: swearing in the new chief and presiding justices of the Georgia Supreme Court.
Deal gave the oath of office to Chief Justice P. Harris Hines and Presiding Justice Harold Melton in an 11 a.m. ceremony that drew friends, family, many lawyers and every appellate judge in the state. They entered in a line by reverse seniority — led by the newest, Justice Britt Grant — wearing the black robes that had preceded them across the street into the Capitol. By then even the balcony seats were full.
