Deal announces judicial appointments

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced appointments to fill several judicial vacancies. Deal announced the following appointments to the Court of Appeals of Georgia: the Honorable E. Trenton “Trent” Brown III will replace the Honorable Tilman Eugene “Tripp” Self III following Judge Self’s appointment and confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, the Honorable Elizabeth Gobeil will fill the vacancy created by the appointment and confirmation of the Honorable Elizabeth Branch to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the Honorable Elizabeth Gobeil will replace the Honorable Elizabeth Branch following Judge Branch’s appointment and confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and the Honorable Stephen S. Goss will replace the Honorable Gary B. Andrews, who will retire at the end of July. Deal also announced Andrew W. Pope will fill the solicitor general vacancy within the State Court of Thomas County and Ryan R. Leonard will fill the district attorney vacancy within the Douglas Judicial Circuit.

The appointments will take effect upon swearing in. 

E. Trenton “Trent” Brown III, Court of Appeals
Brown is a superior court judge of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit and previously served as the state court judge of Putnam County. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. Brown and his wife, Jill, have two children and reside in Eatonton.

Elizabeth D. Gobeil, Court of Appeals
Gobeil is a director and appellate division judge with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. Gobeil and her husband, Bart, reside in Savannah.

Stephen S. Goss, Court of Appeals
Goss is a superior court judge in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. Goss and his wife, Dee, have three children and reside in Albany.

Andrew W. Pope, Thomas County Solicitor General
Pope is the owner and managing attorney of Andrew W. Pope, P.C. Attorney at Law in Thomasville. He previously served as solicitor general of Thomas County from 2006-2012. Pope earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southwestern State University and a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He and his wife, Brecca, have two children and reside in Thomasville.

Ryan R. Leonard, District Attorney, Douglas Judicial Circuit
Leonard has worked for the Douglas Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office since 2006 and has been the acting district attorney since March 2018. He received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and a law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. Leonard and his wife, Erika, have two children and reside in Douglasville.