Atlanta, Jan. 17, 2018 – Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Cox of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit has been designated to serve in place of Justice Nels S. D. Peterson in the appeal of In Re: Estate of Gladstone (S17G1472). The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear arguments in the case on Jan. 22, 2018 during its 2:00 P.M. session. In this case, an insurance company is appealing a ruling by the Georgia Court of Appeals upholding a Probate Court’s award of punitive damages against the company. In addition to hearing arguments, Judge Cox will participate in the Court’s decision.
Judge Cox, 56, was elected to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit and was sworn in as a superior court judge on Dec. 20, 2016. Prior to his election to the bench, Judge Cox was a corporate employment defense litigator who practiced with several firms. His primary practice included employment law defense for corporate clients. Before his private-sector career, Judge Cox was an attorney in the Georgia Attorney General’s Office and later served in the Fulton County Attorney’s Office.
Judge Cox graduated with honors from Morehouse College in Atlanta and obtained his law degree from Boston College of Law. He began his early career in the public sector as a participant in the prestigious United States Department of Justice Honors Program in Washington, D.C.
When he was in the private sector, Judge Cox received an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell Attorney Rating Agency, signifying a lawyer who has reached the height of professional excellence. He was also selected multiple years as a Georgia Super Lawyer. In 2015, Judge Cox was named in the National Black Lawyers Top 100. In 2016, Judge Cox was selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of Best Lawyers.
Judge Cox is an active member of the Atlanta community. He is married to Gwendolyn Cox. They have two children.
(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.)