Judge Scott Chastain of Gilmer County will take office on May 1, 2025 as the 40th president of the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia. Earlier this month, Chastain and the other newly elected Council officers were sworn in at the Council’s annual Spring Conference in Athens by Chief Judge Amanda H. Mercier of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Aside from Chastain, newly installed Council officers Judge Patty Walters Laine (Hall County), Judge Josh Suggs (Miller County), and Judge Darin McCoy (Evans County) were elected president-elect, vice president, and secretary-treasurer, respectively.
“I am truly grateful for the trust that my probate colleagues have in me to take on this important role,” said Chastain. “In my upcoming year as Council president, I look forward to exploring innovative ways to make our class of court more accessible and responsive to the citizens that we each have the privilege to serve.” Chastain has held multiple Council leadership positions, including serving as the Council’s president-elect, vice president, chair of the Council’s Technology Committee, and member of the Council’s Legislative Committee. Last year, Chastain was chosen by his colleagues as the Outstanding Probate Judge of the Year. Chastain has served as the probate judge of Gilmer County since 2017.
ABOUT THE COUNCIL OF PROBATE COURT JUDGES
Established and given jurisdiction by O.C.G.A. § 15-9-15 to further improve the administration of probate courts across the state. The Council lends assistance to its probate judges in the execution of their duties and promotes professional training. Each elected probate judge in each respective county in Georgia is a member of the Council.