08/06/2024—Hon. Robert McBurney Steps Down from JQC Hearing Panel

Atlanta, August 6, 2024 - The Hon. Robert C. I. McBurney has stepped down as Presiding Officer of the Judicial Qualifications Commission Hearing Panel after more than seven years of service.<_o3a_p>

The Supreme Court has named Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Brian Rickman as Hearing Panel Presiding Officer for a four-year term, beginning Aug. 6, 2024.<_o3a_p>

"Serving on the Judicial Qualifications Commission's Hearing Panel has been a highlight of my tenure as a judge," Judge McBurney said. "I deeply appreciate the opportunity the Supreme Court afforded me. I also appreciate the need to bring in new leadership so that the Hearing Panel can evolve as an institution. Judge Rickman is an excellent selection to guide the Hearing Panel and to improve on what we have built since its inception."<_o3a_p>

Judge McBurney, who sits on the Atlanta Judicial Circuit Superior Court bench, took the role immediately following the restructuring of the JQC.<_o3a_p>

"Judge McBurney has exemplified exceptional leadership by developing the Hearing Panel's practices and operations based on an entirely new JQC model created in 2016," Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs said. "Under his leadership, the Hearing Panel succeeded in implementing a new adjudication system for judicial discipline matters where every matter before the panel presented uncharted and new challenges."<_o3a_p>

Judge Rickman has served on the Court of Appeals bench since January 2016, and served as chief judge from 2021-23. He also has experience as a trial court judge, having served by designation on the Superior Court of the Mountain Judicial Circuit. Before becoming a judge, he served as the District Attorney for the Mountain Judicial Circuit, during which time he also prosecuted JQC matters.<_o3a_p>

"We are thankful for Judge Rickman's commitment to take on this role, and we are confident that his leadership will continue the good work of the Panel," Chief Justice Boggs said.<_o3a_p>