Deal Appoints Oconee Lawyer as Newest Judge

Governor Deal has announced his appointment of Eric W. Norris for the Superior Court judgeship within the Western Judicial Circuit.

Norris, a solo practitioner, is currently serving as the Oconee County Magistrate Court judge. After earning a bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College and State University, he later obtained his law degree from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Norris now lives in Watkinsville with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children.

Governor Deal has also made two appointments to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit. Mary Beth Priest, an associate with Clark & Clark, Attorneys at Law, P.C. in Ellijay, earned her bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College and State University and her law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law.

His other appointment, John E. Worcester, is the Chief Juvenile Court judge for the Appalachian Judicial Circuit. He first earned his bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University, a master’s degree from Troy University, and then law degrees from Atlanta Law School.

Mary Beth Priest and her husband, Jeremy, have two children and currently reside in Ellijay. Worcester and his wife, Sharon, reside in Jasper.