Governor Brian Kemp has filled the seats of two former Atlantic Judicial Circuit superior court judges – and now the circuit has to have a new district attorney.
Current Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney Billy Joe Nelson was named to replace Robert L. Russell III, who has retired from the bench.
Another vacancy, opened when Glen Cheney retired, has been filled by Bryan County attorney Charles “Brad” Dixon.
Nelson was elected district attorney of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit in 2022. Nelson became an assistant district attorney in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit in 2011 and served in that capacity until he was elected as district attorney.
He has been running unopposed in re-election to the DA’s position.
In 2017, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Nelson to serve as the part-time solicitor general for the State Court of Long County. He began his legal career in 2009 as a law clerk for the Superior Court judges in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit.
Nelson is a native of McIntosh County and a lifelong resident of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in real estate, cum laude, from the University of Georgia. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He and his wife, Kathryn, have three children and reside in Liberty County.
Dixon is a partner in the law firm of Dixon & Lasseter, Attorneys at Law, P.C., in Richmond Hill. His practice has included domestic relations, criminal defense, probate, estate planning, real estate, and civil litigation matters.
Prior to entering private practice, Dixon served for eight years on active duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, ultimately attaining the rank of major. He served as a general crimes prosecutor, special victims prosecutor, and trial and defense attorney. He was responsible for training military prosecutors worldwide.
Dixon earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from West Virginia University in 2006, and his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2009. Dixon and his wife, Ivona, reside in Richmond Hill with their two sons, Charlie and Vance.