Georgia Supreme Court, Nels S D Peterson

Nels earned his bachelor's in political science and economics from Kennesaw State University in 2001 and received his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2004. He lives with his wife Jennifer and their two children in Marietta. He attends Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.

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Nels was previously the Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and Secretary to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Solicitor General and the Counsel for Legal Policy at the Georgia Attorney General's Office, the Executive Counsel at the Office of Governor Sonny Perdue, a lawyer at King & Spalding. and a law clerk for Judge Bill Pryor on the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. 


Nels Peterson is currently a Justice on the Georgia Supreme Court. He assumed office by appointment in January 2017. He then won the 2018 election. Nels was previously a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals from 2016 to 2017.

At Harvard, he was Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Executive Vice-President of the Federalist Society, and was a finalist in the Ames Moot Court Competition.

Practiced law at King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta, where he focused on securities litigation, corporate governance litigation, merger-related litigation, and appellate litigation.

As Solicitor General, he oversaw the state’s civil appellate litigation, played a lead role in all policy-related litigation, and served as a senior advisor to the Attorney General.

- At Harvard, he was Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Executive Vice-President of the Federalist Society, and was a finalist in the Ames Moot Court Competition.
- Practiced law at King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta, where he focused on securities litigation, corporate governance litigation, merger-related litigation, and appellate litigation.
- As Solicitor General, he oversaw the state’s civil appellate litigation, played a lead role in all policy-related litigation, and served as a senior advisor to the Attorney General.

Legal Experience

As of March 19, 2024, Nels Peterson did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Philosophy

Community Involvement

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

Nels Peterson

- The Georgia Supreme Court is very similar to the US Supreme Court. The Georgia Supreme Court consists of nine judges called Justices. They are the final authority on the Georgia Constitution. 
- Supreme Court Justices are the final court for appeals in the State of Georgia. This means they hear all types of civil cases, criminal cases, and cases involving the State of Georgia. 
- Supreme Court Justices hear cases to determine if a prisoner is being held by the state in error. They hear any cases involving the death penalty or the potential of the death penalty. 
- Unlike trial courts, Supreme Court Justices do not decide cases on their own. Instead the decisions are made as a group by majority vote. An individual Justice will then publish a majority opinion.
- The Supreme Court Justices internally choose a Supreme Court Chief Justice, who presides over oral arguments, leads case deliberations, chairs the Judicial Council of Georgia, and serves four year terms.
- Supreme Court Justices are elected to six year terms. Elections are nonpartisan and statewide. The Governor can appoint Supreme Court Justices when vacancies arise.

Georgia State Supreme Court Justice

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