ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp announced three judicial appointments to courts in the Middle Judicial Circuit and Muscogee County.
Release:
ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the following judicial appointments: the Honorable Paul K. Cook to the Superior Court of the Middle Judicial Circuit, filling the vacancy created by the passage of HB 1215 (Act 450) during the 2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly; the Honorable David Ranieri to the State Court of Muscogee County, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Andy Prather; and Alex Shalishali to the State Court of Muscogee County, filling the vacancy created by the passage of HB 1258 (Act 661) during the 2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
Paul Cook currently serves as a judge on the State Court of Toombs County, a position he has held since January of 2021. He also serves as a judge on the municipal court in six cities, sits by designation on the Superior Court of the Middle Judicial Circuit, and presides over conflict cases in the State Court of Candler County. In addition to his judicial service, he is the sole practitioner at the Cook Law Firm, LLC, in Vidalia, where he handles a variety of cases ranging from criminal defense to family law matters.
Judge Cook received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Auburn University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1997. While in law school, he served on the Student Bar Association and as a legal intern for an elder law clinic. Motivated by his faith, Judge Cook serves others through charitable activities and volunteer opportunities in his community…