Ballotpedia, Andrew Pinson

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "Justice Pinson is a University of Georgia law school graduate... Before joining the Supreme Court of Georgia, he served as a Judge on the Court of Appeals, Solicitor General, and judicial clerk on the U.S. Supreme Court."

Before joining the Supreme Court of Georgia, he served as a Judge on the Court of Appeals, Solicitor General, and judicial clerk on the U.S. Supreme Court.


Believes in a strong legal foundation, having clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, practiced law in D.C. and Georgia, and handled diverse cases in trial and appellate courts.

Began his career in public service as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for Chief Judge David B. Sentelle, then at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas. 

Worked at the Office of Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and was the Judge on the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Graduated at the top of his class in law school, the University of Georgia’s Lumpkin School of Law.

Interned with the Office of Executive Counsel for the Governor, Jones Day in Atlanta, and Fortson, Bentley, & Griffin in Athens.

As Solicitor General, he handled high-profile and complex appeals, including in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and several other courts in Georgia and across the country.

- Before joining the Supreme Court of Georgia, he served as a Judge on the Court of Appeals, Solicitor General, and judicial clerk on the U.S. Supreme Court.

- Began his career in public service as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for Chief Judge David B. Sentelle, then at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas. 
- Worked at the Office of Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and was the Judge on the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
- Graduated at the top of his class in law school, the University of Georgia’s Lumpkin School of Law.
- Interned with the Office of Executive Counsel for the Governor, Jones Day in Atlanta, and Fortson, Bentley, & Griffin in Athens.
- As Solicitor General, he handled high-profile and complex appeals, including in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and several other courts in Georgia and across the country.

Legal Experience

Said, "How do I uphold the rule of law? First, I approach every case with an open mind and apart from personal opinion. Personal preferences of individual judges should never affect how we interpret and apply our laws."

Believes in approaching every case with "an open mind" separate from "personal opinion" and plans to apply the law as written.

Said, "I believe good judges serve with one goal: uphold the rule of law... Without the rule of law, our rights and liberties would be meaningless."

Said, "I believe good judges serve with one goal: uphold the rule of law. The rule of law is the simple but powerful idea that we are all bound by the laws that our elected representatives have passed. Without the rule of law, our rights and liberties would be meaningless."

- Believes in approaching every case with "an open mind" separate from "personal opinion" and plans to apply the law as written.
- Said, "I believe good judges serve with one goal: uphold the rule of law. The rule of law is the simple but powerful idea that we are all bound by the laws that our elected representatives have passed. Without the rule of law, our rights and liberties would be meaningless."

Judicial Philosophy

The candidate's website says, "Justice Pinson has served on a number of non-profit boards and commissions, and he has received awards for his service as an attorney and judge... Justice Pinson and his wife Sara Beth live just north of Tucker in DeKalb County..."

Served on a number of non-profit boards and commissions, and he has received awards for his service as an attorney and judge.

- Served on a number of non-profit boards and commissions, and he has received awards for his service as an attorney and judge.

Community Involvement

As of March 19, 2024, Andrew Pinson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

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Andrew Pinson

Ballotpedia, John Barrow (Georgia)

The candidate's website says, "People want to know that they’ll get the same shake as the bigshots ... They know they can’t get that from lawyers who’ve never represented real people, with real problems in the real world."

Said, "As a practicing lawyer, local elected official, member of Congress, and volunteer public attorney, I’ve represented more Georgians, in more different ways, than anybody else on the Court... And I believe most folks want that kind of experience on our Supreme Court."

Said, "There sure are! I learned how the law affects people long before I went to law school."

Said, "My career has prepared me for service on the Court in lots of ways. As a lawyer in a small firm in a small town, I’ve seen how the law affects real people in the real world."

Believes diverse legal experience, from small-town practice to litigating with top state lawyers, is valuable for serving effectively on the Court.

Believes his diverse legal experience, from small-town practice to litigating with top state lawyers, is valuable for serving effectively on the Court.

Worked as a pro bono staff attorney at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

Received his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1979.

- Said, "My career has prepared me for service on the Court in lots of ways. As a lawyer in a small firm in a small town, I’ve seen how the law affects real people in the real world."
- Believes his diverse legal experience, from small-town practice to litigating with top state lawyers, is valuable for serving effectively on the Court.
- Worked as a pro bono staff attorney at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
- Received his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1979.

The candidate's website says, "Judges decide what the law is, not what it ought to be... Legislators, on the other hand, have a more expansive role."

The candidate's website says, "If you want to know how someone will approach the role of deciding what the law is... If they’re careful and thoughtful in that much more expansive role, you can be sure that they’ll be careful and thoughtful in the much more limited role of judge."

Said, "That’s why we need Justices on the Georgia Supreme Court who will enforce our state Constitution – our Georgia Constitution – against those who encroach on the rights of the people."

The candidate's website says, "In siding with Mississippi and Alabama in the case that overturned Roe v. Wade, Pinson clearly did not represent the interests of the women and families in Georgia... We can’t expect Pinson to fight for our interests now that he’s been appointed to the only court that can stop what he helped start."

Said, "I’m running because we need Justices on the Georgia Supreme Court who will protect the right of women and their families to make the most personal family and health care decisions they’ll ever make... Despite many fine qualities, it’s obvious from his record that Justice Pinson cannot be counted on to do that."

Said, "I’m running because we need Justices on the Georgia Supreme Court who will protect the right of women and their families to make the most personal family and health care decisions they'll ever make.”"

The candidate's website says, "And other rules – judge-made rules – make it harder to hold government officials accountable when they break the law. Only the Georgia Supreme Court can fix that."

The candidate's website says, "With the federal courts withdrawing from so many of these fights... the only protections Georgians have left are in our state Constitution. And the Georgia Supreme Court has the last word on what it means."

Said, "With the federal courts withdrawing from so many of these fights the only protections Georgians have left are in our state Constitution. And the Georgia Supreme Court has the last word on what it means."

Said, "I’m running because we need Justices on the Georgia Supreme Court who will protect the right of women and their families to make the most personal family and health care decisions... Despite many fine qualities, it’s obvious from his record that the incumbent, Justice Pinson, cannot be counted on to do that."

Advocates for the need to have Justices on the Georgia Supreme Court who will protect the right of women and their families to make personal family and health care decisions.

Believes Pinson, by supporting Mississippi and Alabama in the Roe v. Wade reversal, failed to represent Georgian women and families and won't protect their interests on the court that could halt the decision's consequences.

Believes Pinson, by supporting Mississippi and Alabama in the Roe v. Wade reversal, failed to represent Georgian women and families.

- Said, "With the federal courts withdrawing from so many of these fights the only protections Georgians have left are in our state Constitution. And the Georgia Supreme Court has the last word on what it means."
- Advocates for the need to have Justices on the Georgia Supreme Court who will protect the right of women and their families to make personal family and health care decisions.
- Believes Pinson, by supporting Mississippi and Alabama in the Roe v. Wade reversal, failed to represent Georgian women and families.

The candidate's website says, "John grew up learning the importance of serving his community and standing up for what’s right. ..."

The candidate's website says, "Throughout his time in public service, John has proven to be an independent and effective representative for his fellow Georgians... In Congress, he worked with both President Bush and President Obama to open a Veterans Affairs health clinic in Statesboro, and he led a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to increase veterans mileage reimbursements—their first in 30 years... He was central in the fights to deepen the Port of Savannah and bring the Army’s Cyber Command to Fort Gordon in Augusta..."

Said, "And as a volunteer legal services lawyer, I’ve seen first-hand how the law can be used by the unscrupulous to prey on the less fortunate."

Said, "As a teacher, I’ve renewed my faith in the ability of the younger generation to tackle the problems that are not being addressed by today’s leaders."

Said, "As a 14-year veteran of local government, I’ve seen all the ways that local government – the government that’s closest to the people – can contribute to a sense of community..."

He was a pro bono staff attorney at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

- He was a pro bono staff attorney at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

As of March 19, 2024, John Barrow’s website did not contain information on this issue.

John Barrow

- The Georgia Supreme Court is very similar to the US Supreme Court. The Georgia Supreme Court consists of nine judges called Justices. They are the final authority on the Georgia Constitution. 
- Supreme Court Justices are the final court for appeals in the State of Georgia. This means they hear all types of civil cases, criminal cases, and cases involving the State of Georgia. 
- Supreme Court Justices hear cases to determine if a prisoner is being held by the state in error. They hear any cases involving the death penalty or the potential of the death penalty. 
- Unlike trial courts, Supreme Court Justices do not decide cases on their own. Instead the decisions are made as a group by majority vote. An individual Justice will then publish a majority opinion.
- The Supreme Court Justices internally choose a Supreme Court Chief Justice, who presides over oral arguments, leads case deliberations, chairs the Judicial Council of Georgia, and serves four year terms.
- Supreme Court Justices are elected to six year terms. Elections are nonpartisan and statewide. The Governor can appoint Supreme Court Justices when vacancies arise.