Governor Kemp announced his selection of James "Jim" Prine to fill a vacancy on the Superior Court of the Southern Judicial Circuit. Prine will replace the Honorable Harry Jay Altman II following Altman's retirement.

"Given Jim's extensive background with the Southern Judicial Circuit, I am confident that he is the right man for this job," stated Governor Kemp. "As a judge, he will prioritize the business of the court and uphold justice, fairness, and proper decorum."

James L. Prine earned his bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law. Since 2002, Prine has served as the Senior Assistant District Attorney of the Southern Judicial Court. He is active with the Thomasville Kiwanis Club, and he is a member of the South Georgia Intelligence Network Law Enforcement Group and Thomas County Bar Association. Prine earned the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller Recognition for Outstanding Record in the Prosecution of Offenders in 2006, and he was named the Georgia State Arson Control Board Prosecutor of the Year in 2014. He and his family reside in Thomasville.