Former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice George Carley died late Thursday night from COVID-19,  current Chief Justice Harrold Melton announced on Friday.

Justice Carley was 82 years old, and passed away around 11 p.m. at Emory Decatur Hospital, Chief Justice Melton said in a statement “We are devastated by the loss of Justice Carley, a beloved friend and colleague to so many of us,” Chief Justice Melton said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Sandy, his son, George H. Carley, Jr., and his two grandsons.”

Justice Carley was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1993 by then-Governor Zell Miller.

In May 2012, he was sworn in as the 29th Chief Justice, serving as leader of Georgia’s judicial system until Dec. 31, 2012, when his term in office came to an end.

Prior to serving on the state’s highest court, Justice Carley was a judge on the Court of Appeals of Georgia, the state’s intermediate appellate court, from 1979 until 1993.

Justice Carley was the first in Georgia history to serve as Presiding Judge and Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, and as Presiding Justice and Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.

A stickler for protocol, he was known for never appearing in public without being “properly attired” in a coat and tie.

According to the court, besides his family, Justice Carley loved two things: the Georgia Bulldogs and the Court.

WSB