George H. Carley
George H. Carley | |
---|---|
29th George D. Busbee | |
Personal details | |
Born | George Holmes Carley[1] September 24, 1938 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
Died | November 26, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | (aged 82)
Spouse | Sandra M. Lineberger |
Education | University of Georgia (AB, LLB) |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army United States Army Reserve |
Years of service | 1956–1960 |
George Holmes Carley (September 24, 1938 – November 26, 2020) was an American lawyer and judge. From Decatur, Georgia, he served on the Supreme Court of Georgia from March 1993 until July 2012, acting as Chief Justice for the last two months of his term.
Early life and career
Carley was born in
Carley received his A.B. from the University of Georgia in 1960 and his LL.B. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1962. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega.[2] He stated that his favorite professor in law school was the property law expert Verner F. Chaffin.[4]
Carley was
Judicial career
Governor
In October 2011, Carley announced plans to retire from the Supreme Court in July 2012. Governor Nathan Deal would be able to appoint his successor, who would have to run for reelection in 2014.[6] At the end of 2011, Chief Justice Carol Hunstein asked the Associate Justices to allow her to step down so that Carley could serve out the rest of his term as chief justice. The Associate Justices voted unanimously in favor of Huntstein's gesture.[7] Carley officially delivered his resignation to Deal on February 3, 2012, announcing his retirement effective July 17.[8]
On May 29, 2012, Carley was sworn in as the 29th Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. At his investiture, all six living former chief justices were in attendance: Hunstein, Robert Benham, Harold Clarke, Norman Fletcher, Willis Hunt and Leah Ward Sears.[7] Carley became the first justice to serve as Chief Justice and presiding judge on both the Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals.[7] After his retirement, Hunstein resumed her role as chief justice.[7] Deal appointed Court of Appeals judge Keith Blackwell to replace Carley.[9] Prior to retiring, Carley stated that he hoped to become a private mediator or arbitrator or a senior trial judge after leaving the Court.[3]
Jurisprudence
Carley was often the lone justice on the Supreme Court to dissent from a decision. His jurisprudence emphasized judicial deference to the legislature; for example, in 1998 he was the lone dissenter in a 6–1 decision striking down the state sodomy law.[3]
In
In civil cases, Carley often sided with plaintiffs. He was known for an important pro-plaintiff decision in a no-fault insurance case from early in his judicial career.[3]
Personal life and death
Carley married Sandra M. (Sandy) Lineberger[4] of Macon in 1960. The couple had one son.[2]
Carley had a
Carley died from COVID-19 on November 26, 2020, at the age of 82.[10]
Notes
- ^ Hunstein resumed her role as Chief Justice when Carley retired.
- ^ Report of Proceedings (1964)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Biography: Presiding Justice George H. Carley. Supreme Court of Georgia (last accessed January 18, 2012).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rankin, Bill (November 24, 2009). Justice a unique voice on high court. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Alumni Spotlight: George Carley (LL.B.'62) (February 2011). University of Georgia Law School.
- ^ "Two new justices elected to GA Supreme Court". WTOC. Gray Television. June 15, 2009. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Archived from the originalon January 18, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ Alyson M. Palmer, Carley makes retirement plans official; JNC process to begin in April Archived July 19, 2012, at archive.today (February 3, 2012). Daily Report.
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- ^ "11/27/2020 - Former Chief Justice George Carley Has Died". Supreme Court of Georgia. November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
External links
- Biography Archived January 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine on the Supreme Court of Georgia official website
- Georgia Carley article on Judgepedia