The Superior Court of the Western Judicial Circuit announce Lisa Lott as its next Chief Judge effective May 1, 2024 after a unanimous vote of the judges of the circuit. Judge Lott follows Judge Eric W. Norris, who served as Chief Judge since 2020.

"We are proud to have Judge Lott serve as our next Chief Judge and first female Chief Judge," says former Chief Judge Norris. "My fellow judges and I believe she will continue to effectively represent the Western Judicial Circuit and support the many programs and services that the courts offer to assist those in the criminal justice system including our accountability courts, law library and other programs. Her years of government service demonstrates her commitment to the rule of law and her faith in our local community."

"I am honored by the trust and support of my fellow judges. I remain committed to ensuring an effective independent and accessible justice system for our community," says Judge Lott. "I would like to further express my deep thanks to Chief Judge Norris for his four years of steadfast leadership, most of which were during the pandemic. He weathered us through court closures, virtual court proceedings, lean budgets and more, all with calm and dignity. I am thankful to work with Judge Norris along with Judge Lawton Stephens and Judge Patrick Haggard to be part of a wonderful team of jurists and colleagues."

Judge Lott has served on the bench since she was elected on January 1, 2019. Prior to being elected, Judge Lott served as an Assistant Public Defender serving the Western Circuit for 18 years. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California-Berkeley and her law degree from Emory University.

The Superior Court of the Western Judicial Circuit serves Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties. Superior Court Judges preside over cases involving misdemeanors, contract disputes, premises liability, and various other actions. In addition, the Superior Court has exclusive equity jurisdiction over all cases of divorce, title to land, and felonies involving jury trials, including death penalty cases. For more information on the courts of Athens-Clarke County, visit www.accgov.com/courts.