Peter Zack Geer
Encyclopedia
Peter Zack Geer was a Democratic
politician
from Georgia
.
Geer was born in Colquitt
, Miller County, Georgia
. He graduated from Mercer University
Walter F. George School of Law
in 1951 and was a prominent attorney. Geer served as the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
from 1963 to 1967 under fellow Democrat, Governor Carl Sanders
.
After leaving office, Geer returned to the practice of law
. In 1973, he prosecuted four men accused of slaying six Alday family members in Seminole County, Georgia
. Geer obtained convictions and death sentences for the three principal defendants, although the convictions were later overturned due to pre-trial publicity which was held to have unduly prejudiced the jury. President Jimmy Carter
, then Governor of Georgia, called the mass murder "the most heinous in Georgia history".
Geer died of cancer
and was buried in the city cemetery in his native Colquitt.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Georgia
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...
.
Geer was born in Colquitt
Colquitt, Georgia
Colquitt is a city in Miller County, in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 1,939 at the 2000 census. Colquitt is the county seat of Miller County, a role it has held since just after Miller County was created by the Georgia Legislature in 1856...
, Miller County, Georgia
Miller County, Georgia
Miller County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 26, 1856. As of 2000, the population was 6,383. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 6,163. The county seat is Colquitt.-Geography:...
. He graduated from Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
Walter F. George School of Law
Walter F. George School of Law
The Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University, founded in 1873, is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and is the second oldest of Mercer's eleven colleges and schools. The School of Law, with approximately 420 students, is located in Macon, Georgia on its own campus one...
in 1951 and was a prominent attorney. Geer served as the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
from 1963 to 1967 under fellow Democrat, Governor Carl Sanders
Carl Sanders
Carl Edward Sanders Sr. is an American politician who served as the 74th Governor of the state of Georgia from 1963 to 1967.Sanders was born in Augusta, Georgia and attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship...
.
After leaving office, Geer returned to the practice of law
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
. In 1973, he prosecuted four men accused of slaying six Alday family members in Seminole County, Georgia
Seminole County, Georgia
Seminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 9,369. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,081. The county seat is Donalsonville.-History:...
. Geer obtained convictions and death sentences for the three principal defendants, although the convictions were later overturned due to pre-trial publicity which was held to have unduly prejudiced the jury. President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, then Governor of Georgia, called the mass murder "the most heinous in Georgia history".
Geer died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and was buried in the city cemetery in his native Colquitt.