MONROE, Ga. — Walton County attorney and Magistrate Judge Kevin Morris will replace longtime Superior Court Judge John Ott when he retires at the end of this month.

Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday, Dec. 16, named Morris to be one of five Superior Court judges in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit to fill a vacancy that will be created by the resignation of Ott Dec. 31.

Morris, 51, of Monroe, has served as the Walton County Magistrate Court judge since 2014. 

He said he was honored that "Gov. Kemp selected me for appointment to the Superior Court for the Alcovy Circuit, and I am excited and ready to serve the citizens of Walton and Newton counties."

"The past few weeks have been a whirlwind and I am eager to be sworn in so that I can join the current bench and get to work," Morris said. 

Morris will replace Ott, a fellow Monroe resident who is the Circuit's chief judge and has served as a Superior Court judge since 1990.

"It is also quite humbling to be tapped to follow Judge Ott, who has served this community faithfully as a judge for more than 30 years," Morris said. 

A native Georgian, Morris graduated from the University of Georgia in 1994. He then moved to Shizuoka, Japan, to teach English and business communications to Japanese executives. In 1999, Morris graduated from Mercer Law School and began handling complex litigation claims involving local governments.

Morris also has served as the deputy county attorney for Butts and Henry counties. 

Since joining his current firm, William, Morris and Waymire in Buford, he has continued representing local governments in municipal liability claims. 

He has handled numerous appeals to the 11th Circuit and routinely appears before the court for oral argument. 

As a Magistrate judge, he presides over civil and criminal matters and serves as the Technology Chair for the Council of Magistrate Court Judges. He also teaches classes to new Magistrate judges.