Two cases were on the calendar Wednesday—a DUI and a murder appeal—when the fully vaccinated Georgia Supreme Court gathered in person for the first time in the Nathan Deal Judicial Center since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. But the first order of business was an emotional farewell to Chief Justice Harold Melton.

Melton announced in February that he would retire at the end of June following 30 years of service in state government. He said he didn’t know what he would do next, but he and his wife would have all three of their children in college as of this fall and he would “explore opportunities for the next season of life that will allow me to best serve our legal community and my extended family.”