Politics & Government
'I've Got to Get to Work,' New Superior Court Judge Says
Patrick Haggard, appointed to replace new U.S. District Judge Steve Jones on the bench serving Clarke and Oconee counties, says he's "pleased and honored."
Patrick Haggard was riding back from a friend's memorial service in Atlanta on Tuesday when Gov. Nathan Deal called from a train in Europe to tell him .
“I was very pleased and honored,” said Haggard, 56. “My next thought was, 'I've got to get to work.'”
Haggard has served as the Winterville Municipal Court judge since 1992 and was one of out of 15 applicants to be considered for the position. He is also an attorney at Timmons, Haggard & Carney, a private practice in Athens.
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He said he plans on spending the next few weeks winding down current files and helping clients transition to other lawyers.
Haggard said his experience as judge for the Winterville Municipal Court gave him “a taste of being a judge.” He said he enjoys the profession.
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“It's gratifying, it's interesting, it keeps you stimulated,” Haggard said. “I find it a good way to spend your adult life.”
Haggard, who was appointed to serve the remainder of Jones' term, will have to run to keep the job in the next election cycle -- which he says he plans to do.
“It's sort of like practicing law,” he said. “You learn something every day.”