Superior Court Judge Jay Stewart of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit has been designated to serve in place of Justice Nels S. D. Peterson in the appeal of New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC et al. v. Georgia Department of Revenue et al.

Designated judges are appointed when a justice must recuse himself or herself from a particular case. The Supreme Court of Georgia maintains a list of select judges from around the state and when the need arises, the Court appoints the next judge on the list

The Supreme Court of Georgia heard arguments in the case during its 10 a.m. session Tuesday. In this case, four cellular and wireless data providers are appealing a Georgia Court of Appeals ruling that upholds a lower court’s dismissal of their lawsuit seeking a refund of millions of dollars in sales taxes for their customers. In addition to hearing arguments, Stewart will participate in the court’s decision.

Stewart, 54, was elected to the Superior Court of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit in 2007. He has been re-elected twice. The Atlantic Judicial Circuit includes Tattnall, Evans, Bryan, Long, Liberty and McIntosh counties.

Prior to his election to the bench, Stewart practiced law in Claxton and surrounding counties for 16 years. He also served as Solicitor-General for the State Court of Evans County from 1993 to 2005.

Stewart graduated from Pinewood Christian Academy and obtained his undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University. He obtained his law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. Georgia School of Law.

Stewart established the Atlantic Judicial Circuit Drug Court in 2009, the first accountability court in the history of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit. Stewart is the former president of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit Bar Association and has served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia. He is a member of the Georgia Superior Court Judges Council where he serves on the Pattern Jury Instruction Committee.

Stewart is married to Teresa and has two children and four grandchildren.