Gov. Nathan Deal’s office announced Dec. 21 the appointment of John A. “Trea” Pipkin III to a Superior Court judgeship in Henry County. He succeeds Wade Crumbley, whose retirement took effect Dec. 31 at midnight.

Pipkin, 37, took his seat on the bench the first week of January. He has lived his entire life in Henry County and after graduating from law school began working there as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office. He spent seven years in that office before his appointment in the summer of 2012 to the solicitor-general’s post. His Superior Court seat will be up for re-election in 2020.

Crumbley served on the bench since his initial appointment in 2005, prior to which he was in private practice and also served as county attorney for several years.