Continuing Coverage
Continuing Coverage

Georgia House votes to name new courts building ‘Nathan Deal Judicial Center’

An artist rendering of the new judicial complex to be built across the street from the Georgia Capitol.
An artist rendering of the new judicial complex to be built across the street from the Georgia Capitol.
By Mark Niesse
Feb 8, 2019

A new building for Georgia’s highest courts could be named after former Gov. Nathan Deal.

The Georgia House of Representatives voted 159-2 on Wednesday to call the nearly completed building the Nathan Deal Judicial Center. Representatives gave a standing ovation after the vote.

Deal, who left office in January after eight years, will be remembered for his criminal justice laws that emphasized treatment and recovery over punishment and hopelessness, said House Speaker David Ralston.

"His greatest legacy is found in the lives of Georgians who have been given a second chance as a result of the criminal justice reforms he has championed," said Ralston, a Republican from Blue Ridge who sponsored the proposal, House Resolution 1.

The resolution will next be considered by the state Senate.

The state courts building, which will house the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals, is scheduled to open in August.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

(From left) State Election Board member Rick Jeffares, executive director James Mills, vice chair Janice Johnston and member Janelle King listen during an election board meeting at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Georgia State Election Board rule on paper ballots fails in tie vote

The State Election Board on Wednesday failed to pass a rule that would establish qualifying circumstances under which Georgia's touchscreen voting system could be eliminated.

Who will replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress?

Now that U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced her plans to resign, attention turns to who might replace her in Georgia's 14th Congressional District.

Firebrand state senator running for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat

State Sen. Colton Moore, R-Trenton, announced plans to seek the 14th District seat, although it wasn't clear whether he will run in a special election or in November.

The Latest

(From left) State Election Board member Rick Jeffares, executive director James Mills, vice chair Janice Johnston and member Janelle King listen during an election board meeting at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Georgia State Election Board rule on paper ballots fails in tie vote

Retired lawmaker, dentist face off in Georgia Senate special election runoff

OPINION

AI is coming for your kids and votes. Georgia should act now.

Featured

Democrat Eric Gisler celebrated his Tuesday election victory at the Trappeze Pub in Athens, Ga. (AP)

Credit: AP

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

How Georgia Democrats pulled off a special election stunner

Democrat Eric Gisler won in a district designed to favor Republicans. Now, GOP leaders are sounding the alarm ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Developer scales back UGA President’s House hotel plan after opposition

A developer has scaled back his proposed hotel on the site of the University of Georgia's historic 'President's House' after Athens residents opposed construction.

Newton man’s pacemaker helped solve his murder. His killer gets life in prison.

Melvin Cooksey’s pacemaker led authorities to his remains and ultimately his killer, caregiver Danetta Knoblauch. She faces sentencing after her murder conviction.