Local attorney Melissa Hise is seeking the superior court judge’s position that will be up for election this year.  Superior Court Judge Kristina Cook Graham has announced her retirement after serving on the bench for thirty-two years.  Judge Graham was appointed by former Georgia Governor Zell Miller to fill the unexpired term of of Judge Jon Woods in 1992.  In January of 2022, Hise announced that she would be running for the position being vacated by Judge Ralph Van Pelt.  Van Pelt resigned before the end of his last term and Governor Brian Kemp appointed former District Attorney Chris Arnt.  Before that, Hise had an unsuccessful bid for the bench when she ran against Judge Van Pelt in 2018.  Van Pelt won that race with 52% of the vote.  Hise is planning a campaign event in Summerville on Friday, January 19 from 5 PM – 8 PM at the Historic Summerville Depot.