Kemp Appoints Two New Muscogee County Judges

Governor Brian Kemp named David Ranieri and Alex Shalishali to the State Court of Muscogee County, filling vacancies created by new legislation and a judicial resignation.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People

Kemp Appoints Two New Muscogee County Judges

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed David Ranieri and Alex Shalishali to the State Court of Muscogee County on Friday. Ranieri will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Judge Andy Prather, while Shalishali will fill a vacancy created by House Bill 1258 (Act 661) passed during the 2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly.

Why it matters

The appointments fill open seats on the Muscogee County bench, ensuring the court continues to operate with full judicial capacity. Ranieri's appointment follows a judicial resignation, while Shalishali's stems from new state legislation that created the position.

Ranieri has more than 21 years of prosecutorial experience and more than nine years in private practice handling civil litigation. Shalishali, who earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2012, is a shareholder with Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C.

The players

Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp is the Governor of Georgia, who holds the authority to appoint judges to fill judicial vacancies across the state.

David Ranieri

David Ranieri is the chief judge of the Recorder's Court of Columbus and a former prosecutor with more than 21 years of experience.

Alex Shalishali

Alex Shalishali is a shareholder and attorney with Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C., and serves as Dougherty County attorney.

Andy Prather

Andy Prather was a judge of the State Court of Muscogee County whose resignation created the vacancy Ranieri fills.

The details

Ranieri, chief judge of the Recorder's Court of Columbus, graduated cum laude from Mercer University in 1985 and earned his Juris Doctor there in 1988. Shalishali, who also serves as Dougherty County attorney, is a shareholder and attorney with Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C. Separately, Paul K. Cook was appointed to the Superior Court of the Middle Judicial Circuit to fill a vacancy created by House Bill 1215 (Act 450).

2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly: House Bill 1258 (Act 661) and House Bill 1215 (Act 450) passed, creating the vacancies filled by the appointments.
1985: Ranieri graduated cum laude from Mercer University with a bachelor's degree in political science.
1988: Ranieri earned his Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law.
2012: Shalishali earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Roadmap

The appointment of Alex Shalishali fills a judgeship created by House Bill 1258 (Act 661) from the 2026 Georgia General Assembly session. It shows how newly enacted state legislation translates into concrete judicial seats that the governor must fill.

The appointments determine who presides over State Court cases in Muscogee County, affecting residents who appear before that court. Both seats are now filled, so local court proceedings continue without the gaps left by the vacancies.

The takeaway

Judicial appointments can change who handles local cases, so residents may find it useful to track gubernatorial appointments that affect their county courts. Staying informed about state legislation, such as bills that create new judgeships, helps explain how these seats come to be filled.