Atlanta, May 2, 2018 –Superior Court Judge Robert E. Flournoy, III of the Cobb Judicial Circuit has been designated to serve in place of Justice Nels S. D. Peterson in the appeal of Atkins v. The State (S17G1996). The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear arguments in the case on May 9, 2018 during its 2:00 P.M. session. In this case, a man is appealing his conviction for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old. In addition to hearing arguments, Judge Flournoy will participate in the Court’s decision.
Judge Flournoy, 65, was appointed by former Gov. Roy Barnes on July 14, 2000 to the Cobb County Superior Court and has been elected five times with no opposition. He served as Chief Judge from 2010-2012. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Flournoy was engaged in private practice in Cobb County for 20 years.
Judge Flournoy obtained a BBA, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Georgia in 1974 and his J.D., Cum Laude, from the University Of Georgia School Of Law in 1979. He was named Cobb County Judge of the Year in 2005 and awarded the Jimmy Berry Champion of Justice Award in 2015.
Judge Flournoy has served as a council member of the First United Methodist Church of Marietta, GA. He was a member and chairman of the Downtown Marietta Development Authority and Board of Historic Review, as well as a member of the Board of Directors for Premier Bancshares. He was a founding member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee for the First Alliance Bank.
Judge Flournoy and his wife, Julie, have a son and two grandsons.
(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.)