Press Release

Superior Court Judge David Cannon to seek re-election
Former solicitor general seeks second term as judge

Canton, GA March 14, 2016:  Cherokee County Superior Court Judge David Cannon qualified to run for a second term during the week of qualifying. Cannon was elected to fill former Superior Court Judge Frank Mills’ open seat in 2012, after winning the primary with 63% of the vote.

Prior to being elected judge, Cannon served almost 10 years as Solicitor General of Cherokee County, and was in private practice with his father, the late David Cannon, Sr., for seven years before that. He feels this balance of defense and prosecutorial experience have served him well in his position of judge. “The feedback I’ve gotten from other attorneys, both prosecutors and defense counsel, is that they feel like I really listen to both sides.” says Cannon.

Cannon spent much of his time as solicitor bringing technological changes to the office—implementing a system that drastically improved communication between the solicitor’s office and the Sheriff’s Department, as well as being instrumental to improvements in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council’s new case management system. He also created a system of electronic subpoenas to save the Sheriff’s Department thousands of man hours.  As judge, he has also made technological improvements to the courtroom by single-handedly creating a courtroom presentation system for 1/10 the bid the county originally received. He demonstrated his technology to other judges and court administrators at the Superior Court Judges winter conference in January.

As solicitor, Cannon worked to establish the first misdemeanor drug court in the county, and was part of the committee created the first DUI court—now celebrating its 10th successful year. He is using the models of these alternative courts to form a child support court, the first of its kind in the county. Cannon says, “We’re just waiting on the paperwork to come back from the state giving us budgetary approval to get this started. Child support court is near and dear to my heart because I can’t stand to see children having to suffer as a result of their parents’ divorce.”

His professional credentials include being elected for the last 14 years to the State Bar Board of Governors, Past President of the Georgia Association of Solicitors General, Past President of the Cherokee County Bar Association, Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 under 40” award and serving on the State Bar’s Criminal Justice Reform Committee. He also is a graduate of The Coverdell Leadership Institute.

He is on the board of Cherokee Focus, where he was the head of Drug Free Cherokee. A graduate of Leadership Cherokee, he also served as a steering committee member. He was the Cherokee High School’s mock trial team coach for 10 years. He revived the program last year and now serves as a mentor. He has also received the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service.

He and his wife, Jory, live in Canton with their two children. They are members of Canton First United Methodist Church.

 

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Your Cherokee county superior court judge

Judge David Cannon, Jr.