On Monday, Markette Baker was sworn in as a superior court judge on the Coweta Judicial Circuit. Baker, who served as the Troup County solicitor general from 2004 until her recent appointment, fills a vacancy left by Jack Kirby’s recent retirement and is the first woman appointed to the position. She was chosen from a finalist pool that included local attorney Jeff Todd and Sarah Stimac Japour.

Baker, a LaGrange High alum, has put together an illustrious judicial career since stepping into the solicitor general seat in Troup County in 2004, having won re-election for the position three times, in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Before serving as solicitor-general, she practiced bankruptcy and family law at Whatley, Baker & Baker, P.C., served as an associate municipal judge in LaGrange, represented families on the Troup County Juvenile Indigent Panel, and prosecuted misdemeanor cases as an Assistant Solicitor-General in Troup County.

In 2017, Baker was named “Georgia Solicitor-General of the Year” by the Georgia Association of Solicitors-General, and in 2006, Georgia Trend Magazine named her to its “Top 40 under 40.” She has represented the community and county well over the duration of her career, and now has been given the opportunity to step into one of the state’s more prominent judicial seats. The opportunity has been earned, and we wish her the best.

Baker was considered to fill a new judgeship in the circuit in 2015, when Travis Sakrison was appointed to that post. Baker was also on the short list when Judge Dustin Hightower was appointed to the Coweta Judicial Circuit. Now, she gets her opportunity to serve on the circuit.

Some of the Troup County area attendees at the swearing in included Sheriff James Woodruff, Chief Lou Dekmar, the Troup County Board of Commissioners, LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton, Congressman Drew Ferguson, State Rep. Randy Nix, State Rep. Vance Smith and local judges.

“That meant a lot for people to come all that way to stand there with me,” Baker said of those that traveled to witness the ceremony.

Baker’s selection to the prominent judicial seat proves again that those serving in local roles across LaGrange are some of the best across the state at what they do. We are fortunate to have competent and caring public officers like her to represent us well.