Bennett named Superior Judge

First female to occupy bench

Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marilyn Bennett has made history.

The Pierce County resident was named Monday, September 21 as Superior Court Judge for the Waycross Jud icial Circuit to become the first female to hold the position in the circuit.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp made the announcement Monday afternoon. Word of Bennett’s appointment leaked last week and was published on a Douglas news website, but the Waycross Journal-Herald received official word of the appointment from the governor’s press office Monday afternoon.

Bennett and Bacon County State Court Judge and Attorney William J. “Sam” Edgar were named in August as finalists to replace Judge Dwayne Gillis, who retired February 5 after serving 25 years on the bench, including the last 18 as Chief Judge.

Judge Jeffrey Kight succeeded him as chief judge since he has the most seniority leaving Gillis’ position vacant.

Bennett and Edgar were interviewed by the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission last month and the commission recommended them to Governor Brian Kemp.

Gov. Kemp then conducted interviews with Bennett and Edgar and made the appointment.

Bennett has served as District Attorney for the Waycross Judicial Circuit since being elected in 2022. She was running unopposed for a second term in November’s General Election.

A special election or gubernatorial appointment will fill that position. There is no timetable when that will take place.

Prior to being elected District Attorney, she was as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Waycross office, serving as the lead trial attorney on major felony cases. Before working in Waycross, Bennett worked as a prosecutor in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit and in central Florida, where she handled a range of felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile offenses.

During this time, she developed a strong passion for prosecuting crimes against children.

Additionally, Bennett worked as a civil attorney in both Georgia and Florida, focusing on family law, contracts, civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution. She also has served as a courtappointed guardian ad litem.

Originally from Mississippi, Bennett graduated with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2006 and later the University of Mississippi School of Law.

She and her husband of 18 years, Jim, a Pierce County native, have three children.