Special to the Citizen

On December 14, 1987, Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed John Lee Parrott to the judgeship of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit.
   

Months later, the people of the circuit elected him to the judgeship, initiating a more than 20 year reign as Judge of Superior Courts, spanning from 1988 to 2004.
   

With the announcement of candidacy for re-election, Parrott is looking to add another four year term to his already extensive resume.
   

"For over 20 years, I have been honored to serve as one of your Superior Court Judges, and I truly feel that each county is a member of my family," Parrott said.
   

The Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit consists of (from north to south) Morgan, Greene, Jasper, Putnam, Hancock, Jones, Baldwin and Wilkinson Counties.
   

"The challenges in this role have been more than balanced by the constant realization that I am serving the best citizens in one of the most beautiful places in the world," Parrot added. "I have been blessed to have this opportunity."
   

Parrott was born on April 11, 1949, living the majority of his life in Jasper County.     In 1967, Parrott graduated from Monticello High School with honors. He received a full, four year Daniel Scholarship to The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., from which he graduated in 1971 with departmental honors and general academic high honors, receiving a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Political Science.
   

In his graduating class, Parrott received the highest score on the Law School Aptitude Test.
   

Following the Citadel, Parrott served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. He graduated second in his class from the Military Intelligence Basic Officers School.
   

During his freshman year at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, La., Parrott received a Regents' Scholarship. He then transferred to the University of Georgia School of Law, from which he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.
   

From 1981 to 1982, Parrott served as the Vice-President of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Bar Association, then served as President from 1982 to 1983. He also served as Small Claims Court Judge of Jasper County.
   

During his tenure as a judge, Parrott developed a computerized method of giving jurors written instructions on the law to accompany his oral instructions. This system is mobile, so it can be used in all eight counties of the circuit. It was recognized as an innovation in jury instructions at a seminar given by the Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
   

In 1991, Parrott was chosen as Judge of the Year by the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
   

In the fall of 1995, The National Judicial College selected Parrott to serve as a Faculty Advisor for the General Jurisdiction Course for Trial Judges.
   

Parrott said that he has tried his best to provide an honest, impartial, competent judiciary befitting the fine people of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit.
   

"If re-elected, I will continue to strive to be fair and honest, to seek the truth and to make decisions based upon the merits of the case, not upon what may be best for me personally or politically," he said. "In other words, to serve you as I know you deserve."