George H. Carley facts for kids

George Holmes Carley (September 24, 1938 – November 26, 2020) was an American lawyer and judge. He was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He is best known for serving on the Supreme Court of Georgia. He was a judge there from March 1993 until July 2012. For the last two months of his time on the court, he was the Chief Justice.

Early Life and Education

George Carley was born in 1938. He was the only child of George L. Carley Jr. and Dorothy Holmes Carley. His family moved to Decatur, Georgia, in 1948. From 1951 to 1953, he attended the Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India. This was because his father worked for the United States Public Health Service in Burma.

After returning to the United States, Carley finished high school. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1956. He also served in the United States Army Reserve from 1956 to 1960. He was on active duty in 1956.

Carley went to the University of Georgia. He earned his first degree in 1960. He then got his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1962.

Law and Judicial Career

George Carley became a lawyer in 1961. He worked for a law firm in Atlanta for a short time. Then he returned to Decatur and started his own law practice in 1963. His practice grew into a larger law firm.

Carley also served in the Georgia House of Representatives in 1966. In 1971, he became a partner at a law firm in Decatur. He worked for the Housing Authority of the City of Decatur. He also helped the Georgia Department of Transportation with legal cases.

Becoming a Judge

On April 5, 1979, Governor George D. Busbee appointed Carley to the Georgia Court of Appeals. He was elected to serve full terms in 1980, 1986, and 1992. He was the chief judge of this court from 1989 to 1990.

On March 16, 1993, Governor Zell Miller appointed Carley to the Supreme Court of Georgia. This is the highest court in the state. He was elected to full terms in 1994, 2000, and 2006. In 2009, he was chosen as the presiding judge. He never faced opposition in his elections.

Serving as Chief Justice

In October 2011, Carley announced he would retire from the Supreme Court in July 2012. The Chief Justice at the time, Carol Hunstein, stepped down early. This allowed Carley to serve as Chief Justice for the last two months of his term. The other judges voted for this idea.

On May 29, 2012, George Carley became the 29th Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Many former chief justices attended his swearing-in ceremony. Carley was the first judge to be a chief judge or presiding judge on both the Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals. After he retired, Carol Hunstein became Chief Justice again.

His Approach to Law

Justice Carley often had different opinions from other judges. He believed that judges should respect the laws made by the legislature. This is called judicial deference.

In criminal cases, he often supported the state's side. However, he also believed in following legal rules very carefully. For example, he disagreed with a decision that allowed evidence from a search without a warrant. He wrote that the Fourth Amendment protects people from such searches.

In civil cases, which deal with disputes between people, Carley often sided with the people bringing the lawsuit (called plaintiffs). He was known for an important decision in a case about car insurance early in his career.

Personal Life and Legacy

George Carley married Sandra M. (Sandy) Lineberger in 1960. They had one son.

He was a big fan of the Georgia Bulldogs football team. People described him as "old school." He almost always wore a coat and tie, even when riding a mule in the Grand Canyon. He had vision problems later in life, losing sight in one eye.

George Carley passed away on November 26, 2020, at the age of 82. He died from COVID-19.

See also

In Spanish: George H. Carley para niños