Whigham attorney seeks State Court post
Joshua C. (Josh) Bell
Bell, who has practiced law here and in Decatur County since 1998, currently serves as the appointed municipal court judge for the cities of Cairo, Whigham, Bainbridge, Climax and Donalsonville. He notes that the state court judgeship is a part-time position and would not interfere with his municipal court judgeships.
“I believe my experience as a municipal court judge since 2001 will add expertise to the position of judge of the State Court of Grady County. I believe I can better manage the court and provide a better court for the citizens of Grady County,” Judge Bell said.
He added, “I am eager to serve the citizens of Grady County in a more expansive role. I am excited about the opportunity to run, and I am looking forward to it.”
In addition to his municipal court judgeships, Bell practices law in his own law office in Whigham. Prior to opening his law office in Whigham last December, Bell practiced law from 2001 until 2009 in Bainbridge. From 1998 until 2001, he practiced law with Judge J. Kevin Chason and Claire Chason.
Judge Bell earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 1993 and went on to obtain a masters in public administration from UGA in 1995 before entering law school at Georgia and earning a Juris Doctorate in 1998.
Last year, Judge Bell was nominated as a candidate for the Supreme Court of Georgia. He was one of 39 candidates who were interviewed to fill a vacancy on the state supreme court following the resignation of Chief Justice Leah Sears.
He is very active in the Georgia Bar and is a past president of the Young Lawyers Division of the state bar.
Judge Bell has called Whigham home since he and his parents moved back to Whigham from West Virginia in 1983.
He and his wife, Deana, are the parents of Finnley and McCartney.
Bell has served as the judge of Cairo municipal court since 2001.
Qualifying for nonpartisan races concludes Friday at noon.
Bell says he will qualify later this week.
