Georgia Supreme Court Presiding Justice Hugh Thompson has been unanimously elected the new chief justice.
Thompson succeeds Chief Justice Carol Hunstein, who will remain on the court. The court also unanimously elected Justice Harris Hines to be the new presiding justice. Both justices are set to be sworn into their new positions Aug. 15.

The chief justice serves a single four-year term and oversees the state's judicial branch and is the main spokesperson for the court and the entire judiciary. The chief justice also chairs the Georgia Judicial Council, which governs all the state's courts.

The presiding justice serves in leadership roles when the chief justice is absent.

Thompson and Hines were both appointed to the high court by then Gov. Zell Miller, Thompson in 1994 and Hines in 1995.

Tags: Justice Carol HUnstein, State Supreme Court, Chief Justice Hugh Thompson