Atlanta, Jan. 31, 2018 – Superior Court Judge Katherine K. Lumsden of the Houston Judicial Circuit has been designated to serve in place of Justice Nels S. D. Peterson in the appeal of Gibbs v. State (S17G1343). The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear arguments in the case on Feb. 5, 2018 during its 2:00 P.M. session. In this case, a man is appealing a Georgia Court of Appeals decision upholding his conviction in Cobb County for the aggravated assault of a police officer. In addition to hearing arguments, Judge Lumsden will participate in the Court’s decision.
Judge Lumsden, 46, was appointed to the Houston County Superior Court in January 2007 by then-Gov. Sonny Perdue. She has been reelected, without opposition, three times.
Judge Lumsden graduated from Florida State University in 1993 and Mercer Law School in 1996. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was a prosecutor for 10 years, serving the last five as Chief Assistant District Attorney for the Houston Judicial Circuit.
Judge Lumsden currently presides over the Houston Mental Health Accountability Court and the Day Reporting Center substance abuse recovery program, while also maintaining a civil, criminal, and domestic docket. In addition to her regular court duties, Judge Lumsden serves on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, the Board of Trustees for the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, and as vice-chairperson of the continuing education committee for the Council of Superior Court Judges.
Judge Lumsden is married to Derrek Lumsden. They have two daughters.
(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.)