After eight years in the Georgia House of Representatives, Majority Whip Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, is closing the book on his political career and preparing to start his judicial career.

Coomer will be sworn in at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday—his 44th birthday—as a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals. Gov. Nathan Deal will do the honors, having appointed Coomer to replace Judge Charlie Bethel—now the newest justice on the Georgia Supreme Court. Both Coomer and Bethel are former legislative floor leaders for the governor: Coomer in the House and Bethel in the Senate. House Speaker David Ralston will make the introduction.