Two Superior Court judgeships are up for grabs in the Enotah Judicial Circuit, which handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes, land cases and more in Lumpkin, Towns, Union and White counties.
Incumbent Judge Buck Levins is facing a challenge from Kerry Morris on May 19, while candidates Jeremy Clough and Elise Hoyle are squaring off to replace retiring Superior Court Judge Raymond George.
Since the positions are non-partisan, there will not be another Superior Court election in November: the winner of the General Primary will begin serving a four-year term as soon as the results are confirmed, assuming there is not a runoff.
Early Voting continues through Friday at 56 Short Street in Dahlonega. Polling hours are 8 a.m to 5 p.m. this week, with a final chance to vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
For this survey, each candidate was e-mailed the same four questions and given equal time to respond in answers of 150 words or less. Their unabridged answers are included below.
Q: Why do you want to serve as a Superior Court judge, and what do you hope to contribute?
JUDGESHIP 1
Levins:
For the past six years, I have served the Enotah Circuit as a Superior Court Judge, and I seek to continue that service. Our communities in Lumpkin, White, Union and Towns counties deserve a fair, experienced and impartial judge who protects the rule of law while treating every person who comes into court with dignity and respect. I want to preserve public confidence in the judiciary by ensuring decisions are consistent, understandable and grounded in law, and by maintaining a courtroom that is efficient, accessible and attentive to the administration of justice.
Morris:
I want to serve as a Superior Court judge because I believe every person who enters a courtroom deserves to be treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity. After nearly 30 years practicing law in Northeast Georgia, I have seen firsthand how important the judiciary is to public confidence in our justice system. I hope to contribute experience, professionalism and impartiality to the bench. My background as a prosecutor, private practice attorney and Special Assistant Attorney General has allowed me to work with victims, families, children, defendants and vulnerable adults. I believe those experiences have given me a balanced perspective and the ability to listen carefully before making decisions. As judge, I would strive to ensure that all parties are heard, the law is applied fairly and every person is treated with respect, without favor or fear.
JUDGESHIP 2
Clough:
Superior Court is the highest level trial court in Georgia; it’s the only court in the circuit authorized to conduct jury trials, and the only Georgia court with the authority to pronounce a death sentence. I worked enough serious cases as a DA, and spent enough time with victims and on crime scenes and autopsies, to have a deep sense of the gravity of the job. It’s a deadly serious business that affects not only the individuals involved, but also the community at large. With Judge George’s retirement, the circuit has a need for someone with the experience and temperament to do the job well, and I am the most qualified candidate. I have a proven track record of handling cases efficiently and treating people with dignity and respect in the courtroom, and these are the same values I will bring to the Superior Court bench.
Hoyle:
I want to serve as a Superior Court judge because I want to continue my service to the people of Lumpkin, White, Towns and Union Counties, and I have the personal and professional experience the people of our Enotah Circuit deserve. I am the only candidate running for Judge Raymond George’s position with Superior Court practice within the past decade, and I am the only candidate with family law, property law, business law, estate law and many other types of civil law experience. With grace and grit, I hope to contribute my knowledge, integrity and resolve to the bench while serving others with the utmost respect and dignity.
Q: What types of cases or legal areas do you have the most personal experience in?
JUDGESHIP 1
Levins:
I have spent my 20-year legal career in service to the law. Before joining the bench, I served more than a decade as a prosecutor handling serious felony cases and working closely with law enforcement. I have also practiced family law and served as defense counsel. That breadth of experience gave me a strong foundation when I became a judge and continues to inform my approach to fairness, accountability and careful legal analysis. On the bench, I preside over criminal and civil matters and oversee the North Enotah Drug Court and the Parental Accountability Court. These programs help individuals break cycles of addiction, rebuild stability and take responsibility for their families—work that strengthens public safety and community wellbeing.
Morris:
Over the course of my 27-year legal career, I have handled a wide variety of cases in both criminal and civil courts. I served eight years as an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting felony and misdemeanor cases. In private practice, I handled criminal defense, divorce, custody, legitimation, adoption and civil matters, while also representing parents and children in juvenile court proceedings. For the past ten years, I have served as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the Division of Family and Children Services in deprivation and child welfare matters, as well as the Department of Aging Services in guardianship proceedings involving elderly and at-risk adults. This broad experience has given me substantial courtroom experience and an understanding of how judicial decisions impact individuals, families and the community as a whole.
JUDGESHIP 2
Clough:
I am a highly experienced trial lawyer and judge. I tried my first jury trial 24 years ago, followed by another 58 during my dozen years serving as a prosecutor. I have tried the most serious cases in Georgia law before a jury, including murders, child molestations and others, as well as handling appeals resulting in over a dozen reported (precedential) decisions and three arguments before the Georgia Supreme Court. On the Juvenile Court bench since 2015, I primarily hear child welfare cases, and have sat by designation as a Superior Court Judge for brief periods of time. Judge George’s seat comes with an accountability court: I was a charter member of our Mental Health Court, which I served for three years, and since 2015 have presided over a Family Treatment Court selected as a Model Court for Georgia. I also spearheaded the creation of Juvenile Treatment Courts in Georgia.
Hoyle:
I have served our Enotah Judicial Circuit as a public defender and prosecutor, and I represented members of our communities in various legal areas such as family, property and civil law while in private practice with my husband; we were recently honored to be voted Best Full Service Law Firm by the Georgia Business Journal. My most personal experience comes from being a Georgia crime victim after surviving a near fatal car crash caused by another driver’s choice to ignore the law. That personal experience, combined with my practice areas, gives me a unique perspective on how victims and litigants must navigate our legal system before, after and during a life-altering experience.
Q: Can you briefly summarize your judicial philosophy? How do you view the role of a trial judge in applying precedent, interpreting statutes, etc.?
JUDGESHIP 1
Levins:
I often compare my role as a judge to the role of a baseball umpire—everyone wants someone who will call fair balls and strikes. I believe it’s important to listen, adhere to strict construction of the Constitution, follow the law as written and ensure our courts remain fair, accessible and worthy of the public’s trust. In interpreting statutes, I am guided by the plain meaning of the text, reading laws in their ordinary and commonly understood sense and applying them as enacted by the legislature. My role is to apply the law faithfully, not to add to it or subtract from it. When the law is clear, it must be applied as written. When it requires interpretation, it must remain grounded in the text, the Constitution and precedent.
Morris:
My judicial philosophy is rooted in fairness, impartiality and fidelity to the law. A trial judge’s role is not to legislate from the bench, but to apply the law as written and follow binding precedent faithfully. Judges must carefully consider the facts of each case, apply statutes consistently and ensure that all parties receive due process. I believe a judge should remain respectful, patient and open-minded while maintaining professionalism and order in the courtroom. Every case deserves thoughtful consideration, regardless of the parties involved. A judge must also recognize the serious impact judicial decisions have on people’s lives and approach those decisions with humility, integrity and accountability. Above all, I believe justice requires treating every person fairly and without favoritism.
JUDGESHIP 2
Clough:
Judges do not make the law: that’s the job of the legislature. They apply the law, interpreting it by the guidance of prior appellate court decisions and standard principles called the canons of construction. My appellate experience as a lawyer taught me the importance of preserving the record for future appeals. None of my decisions have been overturned, but the right to appeal is critical and the judge has a duty to preserve it. The way you treat people matters. If someone doesn’t feel heard, they’ll never believe they were treated fairly. Good judging consists of doing both. Handling cases quickly matters. While there will always be some delay in the court process, I believe very strongly in getting cases to court as quickly as possible. I’m used to very fast deadlines in Juvenile Court (often within hours), and even during COVID I continued to meet those timeframes.
Hoyle:
My judicial philosophy is guided by the sacred, independent function of our judiciary branch, which is governed by the Constitution. Judicial independence is central to our democracy because judges protect the rule of law without relying on personal or political affiliation or fear of public perception or retaliation. I view the role of a trial judge in applying precedent, interpreting statutes, etc. as one of the bedrocks of our judicial foundation that should be revered as a pinnacle of our democracy.
Q: What principles guide your decision-making process in the courtroom?
Levins:
Justice is about applying the law consistently, treating every person with dignity and deciding each case on the facts. I believe in a court system that is steady, impartial and grounded in the Constitution. I’m committed to honoring my oath of office by protecting Constitutional rights and upholding the rule of law in every decision. I’m also committed to reducing unnecessary delays, managing dockets efficiently and keeping cases moving fairly and promptly. My wife and I live and work in the Enotah Circuit and are raising our family here. Like you, we want a safe, thriving community where the courts are open, accessible and fair—a place where children can grow up with confidence in the rule of law. If you value a fair, experienced and accessible court, I ask for your vote between now and May 19.
Morris:
The principles that guide my decision-making are fairness, integrity, respect for the rule of law and impartiality. I believe every person who comes before the court deserves to be heard and treated with dignity, regardless of background or circumstance. My decisions would be based on the facts presented, the applicable law and the evidence—not personal opinions or outside influence. I also believe consistency is important so that litigants and attorneys can trust that cases will be handled fairly and predictably. Preparation and careful listening are essential to good judicial decision-making. I would strive to maintain professionalism and patience in the courtroom while ensuring proceedings are efficient and respectful. My goal would always be to uphold public confidence in the judicial system and ensure justice is administered without favor or fear.
JUDGESHIP 2
Clough:
Our founding documents make it clear that government does not grant rights to people: rather, government is to protect those rights they already had by virtue of being a person. My faith teaches me that all people are created in the image of Almighty God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and this establishes the baseline of how I manage the courtroom. The work is too critical to be affected by favoritism or extraneous concerns. No matter how I may feel personally about certain lawyers, topics or anything else, when I put on the robe and get on the bench, I don’t have any friends, and I don’t know anything about that case other than what is introduced into evidence during court. And this is nothing exceptional: that is the duty of every judge if we are to be a nation of laws, and not men.
Hoyle:
My decision-making process is rooted in upholding our Constitution and laws while ensuring that all information and evidence is fully heard and closely considered before making a decision. As a fellow member of our community, I strive to be a protector of our people and justice system while being faithful to the Constitution, respectful of litigants and firm in safeguarding rights and local democracy to uphold public confidence that justice in our courts is governed by law, not by politics.