Atlanta, Jan. 17, 2018 – Superior Court Judge Aaron B. Mason of the Clayton Judicial Circuit has been designated to serve in place of Justice Britt C. Grant in the appeal of In the Interest of I.L.M. et al., children (S17G1391). The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear arguments in the case on Jan. 23, 2018 during its 10:00 A.M. session. In this case, a father, whose parental rights were terminated regarding his three older children, is appealing a decision by the Georgia Court of Appeals that upholds placement of his fourth child in state custody. In addition to hearing arguments, Judge Mason will participate in the Court’s decision.

Judge Mason, 47, was appointed to the State Court of Clayton County by then Gov. Sonny Perdue in August 2010. He was the first African American to serve on Clayton County’s State Court. In January 2017, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Judge Mason to the Superior Court of the Clayton Judicial Circuit. Prior to his appointment to the bench, in 1996, Judge Mason became the first African American prosecutor in the State Court of Clayton County where he worked in the Solicitor General’s Office. From 2000-2010, he worked in the state Attorney General’s Office.

Judge Mason earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kentucky in 1993 and a law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1996.

Judge Mason is a former past president of the Clayton Bar Association and has served as the District 4 Chairman of the Council of State Court Judges. He is the immediate past president of the Clayton Bar Association.

Judge Mason is active in the local and legal community. He enjoys judging Mock Trial competitions and reading to elementary school children. He is a member of Andrew’s Chapel United Methodist Church. He is married and has 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.)