Ryan Hope takes office as new Athens-Clarke State Court Judge

Ryan Hope, who has served as Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court judge since 2017, was sworn in recently as the new judge for the Athens-Clarke County State Court.

Hope was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Senior Judge Ethelyn Simpson, who retired in 2022.

Hope was originally appointed to the judgeship of municipal court by former Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson and has been reappointed twice more by Mayor Kelly Girtz.

"This is not a responsibility I take lightly and I'm very excited to have been given this opportunity," Hope said in a statement released by the city.

"I've worked my entire legal career in public service to the Athens community as a public defender, prosecutor, and judge. It's been very important to me in my work as a judge that the community knows that those who come into my courtroom are going to be treated with dignity, understanding, and compassion,” he said.

Hope had previously worked 10 years as chief assistant solicitor in the Athens-Clarke County Solicitor General’s Office and for six years in public defenders offices in Athens.

A new Municipal Court judge will be appointed at a later date.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Governor appoints Athens man as new State Court judge