'NO Guests Will Be in Attendance': Swearing in New Judges During COVID-19

The novel coronavirus pandemic is suspending the tradition of swearing in new judges with speeches, flourishes and colleagues, friends and family in attendance.

Despite the historic nature of the occasion, Gov. Brian Kemp made plans to quietly administer the oath of office to his new state appellate court appointees Friday before—no one.

“NO guests will be in attendance,” said Rhonda Wilson on behalf of the governor’s office in an email responding to a question about when the appointees will be sworn in.

So without fanfare, Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Carla Wong McMillian moves up from the intermediate court to the Supreme Court. She fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Robert Benham, the first African American to serve on the state’s high court. After Friday, the high court will have two women out of nine justices, and its first Asian American member in history.

“This will be a private time for the appointees and Gov. Kemp,” Wilson said. “Under no circumstance will we be together in the ceremonial office and will at all times observe social distancing recommendations.”

Two other appointees will be joining the Court of Appeals.

Macon Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Verda M. Colvin moves up to the Court of Appeals, replacing McMillian and giving that 15-member court its second African American woman. Also, Henry County Superior Court Judge John A. “Trea” Pipkin III moves up to the Court of Appeals, replacing the late Judge Stephen Goss, who died last year.

The new judges and justices will start their new jobs next week in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. Chief Justice Harold Melton has extended the statewide judicial emergency until May 13, foreclosing all but essential functions in order to control the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, the courts are ordered to remain open to deal with matters that are critical or “essential” to protect the “health, safety, and liberty of individuals.” And Melton has encouraged judges to move cases along by phone, email and teleconference as much as possible to avoid an overwhelming backlog.

Still, some virtual celebrating could be on the calendar.

The Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys marked the occasion with a Facebook post. “GABWA congratulates our own Verda M. Colvin on her appointment to the Georgia Court of Appeals,” the group said.

“Amazing news to uplift us all during these times,” the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association said in a brief note on its website congratulating McMillian “on making history.” The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association made note of the occasion, as well.

“NAPABA extends congratulations to Judge Carla Wong McMillian on her appointment to the Supreme Court of Georgia,” the national group’s president, Bonnie Lee Wolf, said in a news release. “A leader in her community and past president of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Judge McMillian will bring her record of legal excellence to the bench. During this challenging time, it is uplifting news to celebrate Judge McMillian blazing the trail as the first AAPI nominated to Georgia’s highest court.”

Friends, colleagues and supporters can look forward separately to a time when it’s safe to be together again.

Court of Appeals Chief Judge Christopher J. McFadden welcomed the new members in an emailed note.

“I am confident that they will prove equal to the challenges of this extraordinary time, and all of us stand ready to assist them in any way we can,” McFadden said. “We are delighted to welcome Judges Colvin and Pipkin to the Court of Appeals and look forward to formal investitures once we get to the other side.”