The courts have seen positive changes across the Tallapoosa Circuit and here in Cedartown as well after swearing-ins took place starting mid-month and continued through last week.

First among those was a new Tallapoosa Circuit Superior Court Judge sworn in on August 12 by Governor Brian Kemp. Judge Andrew Roper – who defeated former Judge Meng Lim during the primaries in May – took the oath of office early and took over the final months of the current term before he starts his new term in August.

The Cedartown attorney was joined by his family in the ceremony at the Governor’s office in Atlanta. His early start on the bench came after Lim’s early departure from office in July.

The Tallapoosa Circuit Superior Court is now headed by Chief Judge Mark Murphy, who at the end of last week also swore in a another new judge to serve in the circuit.

Juvenile Court Judge Crystal Bice was sworn in for duty by Judge Murphy on Friday afternoon in a ceremony in the Polk County Courthouse’s main courtroom.

She takes over for former Juvenile Court Judge Laura Lundy Wheale, who resigned from her office back in March. The seat went unfilled officially throughout the past months.

Bice began her first official day over the court on Monday.

She is a criminal defense attorney who at one time worked for the Office of the Georgia Capital Defender, had previously worked in Paulding County’s Public Defender’s office, and in the City of Temple as well.

Another swearing in that took place last week was the new Municipal Court Judge for the City of Cedartown. Local attorney Ben Burch is now Judge for the city’s court after he was appointed by Cedartown Commission during their August regular session.

Burch, who has been practicing at Mundy & Burch since 2012, is also a part-time juvenile court judge for the Tallapoosa Circuit and a board member for the Humane Society.

This was the seat previously held by Judge Roper, who vacated it when he became the new Superior Court Judge for the circuit.