Kemp Nominates First-Ever Statewide Business Court Judge

Caption

Walt Davis (center, red tie) has been nominated as the state's first statewide business court judge. / Georgia Public Broadcasting

Gov. Brian Kemp has nominated a veteran lawyer to serve as the judge on a new court designed to handle complex business matters. 

Walt Davis, a partner at Atlanta firm Jones Day, has been tapped to head up the new statewide business court. Georgia voters approved the court last November and the legislature codified it with bipartisan support.  

Davis' bio says that he specializes in "securities litigation, shareholder disputes, and corporate governance matters and regularly counsels boards of directors and senior management in connection with governmental and internal investigations."  It goes on to tout "significant experience" handling insider trading, accounting, and corporate complaince.

Kemp said that Davis stood out from the many recommendations he received for this position.

"His name was the one that I kept hearing from people that are most trusted in this field," Kemp said. "And with over 30 years in the private sector, I know firsthand how important a business friendly legal environment is to the prosperity of any business."

Davis spoke breifly at his nomination saying he was looking forward to making the court relevant and respected as an institution in the state.

"With this goal in mind, my pledge to you is simple," he said. "I will serve with integrity, I will serve with fairness, and I will serve with impartiality in all that I do."

The state House and Senate Judiciary committees must confrim Davis before he starts his new role.