Harold Melton
Encyclopedia
Harold D. Melton is a current Justice on the Supreme Court of Georgia
. He was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue
on July 1, 2005 to fill the vacancy on the bench created by the retirement of Justice Norman S. Fletcher
. His appointment marked the first time a Republican governor had made an appointment to the Supreme Court since 1868 when Governor Rufus B. Bullock selected Justices Joseph E. Brown
and H.K. McCay.
Prior to joining the Court, Justice Melton served as Executive Counsel to Governor Perdue. Before serving as Executive Counsel, Justice Melton spent eleven years in the Georgia Department of Law.
A 1984 graduate of Joseph Wheeler High School
in Marietta, Georgia
, Justice Melton received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University
and his Juris Doctor
from the University of Georgia
in 1991. He previously served as a Volunteer Leader of Young Life
Ministries for 11 years, is currently a Board Member of Atlanta Youth Academies and the Director of Teen Ministry at Southwest Christian Fellowship Church.
While at Auburn University
, Melton served as the Student Government Association President for the 1987-88 academic year. He was the first African-American student elected to that position in the history of the university. He was also the first ever "independent" (non-fraternity member) to be elected to that position.
A native of Washington, D.C.
, Justice Melton grew up in East Point, Georgia
and Marietta. He currently resides in Atlanta with his wife, Kimberly, and their three children.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue
Sonny Perdue
George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III, was the 81st Governor of Georgia. Upon his inauguration in January 2003, he became the first Republican governor of Georgia since Benjamin F. Conley served during Reconstruction in the 1870s....
on July 1, 2005 to fill the vacancy on the bench created by the retirement of Justice Norman S. Fletcher
Norman S. Fletcher
Norman S. Fletcher is an American lawyer and jurist from the state of Georgia. He served on the Supreme Court of Georgia for over 15 years and was the Chief Justice of that body from 2001 through 2005.-Early life and education:...
. His appointment marked the first time a Republican governor had made an appointment to the Supreme Court since 1868 when Governor Rufus B. Bullock selected Justices Joseph E. Brown
Joseph E. Brown
Joseph Emerson Brown , often referred to as Joe Brown, was the 42nd Governor of Georgia from 1857 to 1865, and a U.S. Senator from 1880 to 1891...
and H.K. McCay.
Prior to joining the Court, Justice Melton served as Executive Counsel to Governor Perdue. Before serving as Executive Counsel, Justice Melton spent eleven years in the Georgia Department of Law.
A 1984 graduate of Joseph Wheeler High School
Joseph Wheeler High School
Wheeler High School is located in northeast Cobb County, Georgia, USA. It is near the city of Marietta, about northwest of downtown Atlanta. Wheeler has been in operation since 1965...
in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, Justice Melton received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1991. He previously served as a Volunteer Leader of Young Life
Young Life
YoungLife is a worldwide, non-profit, Evangelical Christian organization. YoungLife consists of many branches of ministry , but most commonly the name "YoungLife" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed toward high school students...
Ministries for 11 years, is currently a Board Member of Atlanta Youth Academies and the Director of Teen Ministry at Southwest Christian Fellowship Church.
While at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, Melton served as the Student Government Association President for the 1987-88 academic year. He was the first African-American student elected to that position in the history of the university. He was also the first ever "independent" (non-fraternity member) to be elected to that position.
A native of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Justice Melton grew up in East Point, Georgia
East Point, Georgia
The city of East Point is southwest of the neighborhoods of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,712...
and Marietta. He currently resides in Atlanta with his wife, Kimberly, and their three children.