334 State Judicial Building

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

January 5, 2005

Press Release

Investiture of The Honorable John H. Ruffin, Jr. as Chief Judge

At 10:00 a.m. today, the Honorable John H. Ruffin, Jr. was sworn in as the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia for a two year term in a ceremony held in the courtroom of the Court of Appeals. Remarks were given by Justice Robert Benham, Supreme Court of Georgia and Senior Judge Anthony A. Alaimo, United States District Court, Southern District of Georgia.

Chief Judge Ruffin is the first African-American judge to hold the office of Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the twenty-second Chief Judge since the Court's inception in 1906. As Chief Judge, he will be responsible for the administration of the Court and acts as the head of the Court for ceremonial and communication purposes.

Chief Judge Ruffin first became a member of the Court in 1994. Prior to his appointment by Governor Zell Miller, he served as a superior court judge in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Chief Judge Ruffin also practiced law in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. He was the first African-American on the Augusta Circuit Superior Court bench and the first African-American member of the Augusta Bar Association. Chief Judge Ruffin was raised in and attended high school in Waynesboro, Georgia.

Chief Judge Ruffin has served as a member of many professional organizations which have fostered improvements in the judicial or legal systems including the Board of the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education; the Georgia Commission on Gender Basis; the Judicial Nominating Commission; the Georgia Conference of Black Lawyers, Inc.; and the National Bar Association. Chief Judge Ruffin was the Chairman of the Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias.

For further information, contact William L. Martin, III, Clerk/Court Administrator either at

martinw@gaappeals.us or by telephone 404-657-8352.