Hooks sworn in as First Associate Probate Judge

A familiar face at the Emanuel County Probate Court is stepping into a new role. Jeanie Hooks, a 13-year veteran of the court system, has officially been sworn in as Emanuel Coun-ty’s first associate probate judge. The move acknowledges her tenure and signals the first major step in Judge Chase Sherrod’s broader goal to increase efficiency and access through the county’s newly consolidated Probate and Magistrate Court.

Hooks took her oath on Wednesday, June 18, following a unanimous vote by the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners two days earlier to authorize the position. The motion passed 4–0. (Chairman Jim Sherrod abstained.)

“Getting to swear Jeanie in as our associate probate judge is an honor. She’s truly the perfect fit for the role,” said Probate/Magistrate Judge Chase Sherrod, who was elected in November 2024 and took office in January. “But beyond that, this is about what the position itself allows us to do as a court. It expands our ability to serve, and that starts by equipping our bench with someone who already knows the job, knows the people, and knows how to get things done.”

Akin to a promotion for Hooks, the move carries broader implications than just a new title. In combining the probate and magistrate courts, Emanuel County joined a growing number of Georgia counties adopting the model for its cost-effectiveness and functional overlap. However, the downside to the move? When the consolidation took effect in January, it left a single judge shouldering the full scope of both courts, leaving little to no room for backup or band-width when urgent matters arose.

Sherrod, a first-term judge, got to work under then-judge Don Wilkes before officially taking office. That early experience immediately showed him the need for more than one judge, especially in a dual-capacity system with overlapping responsibilities and time-sensitive matters.

“There are certain things only a judge can do, like signing certain orders, issuing warrants, swearing in officials,” Sherrod explained. “For example, just a few weeks ago, someone came in with a time-sensitive order that only I could execute, but I was actually off at training. I had to drive 2.5 hours back to Swainsboro, take care of it, then drive 2.5 hours back to my conference. I didn’t mind one bit—but I, and I think the commissioners as well, recognized that’s not a sustainable system, and it’s not fair to the people we’re trying to serve.”

Sherrod brought that concern to the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners, making the case that authorizing a permanent associate probate judge would solve a practical problem without creating a financial one.

In fact, the move is expected to save money over time in a couple ways. The county now operates under a single elected judicial officer, thanks to court consolidation, costing significantly less than paying the salary of a second judge, and by leveraging existing staff and infrastructure, the combined court can now manage a higher volume of work without adding personnel, thereby reducing delays, easing administrative strain, and improving overall efficiency.

“What I don’t want people to think is I’m coming in, trying to reduce my workload or pass it off to Jeanie. That’s not the goal here. It is our collective hope and intent to expand the public’s access to the services they come see us for,” Judge Sherrod said. “We don’t want people to have to wait longer than necessary, especially when you think about some of the matters we deal with, just because I’m tied up in court or out of town for training like I was a few weeks ago, so giving Jeanie the lateral ability to handle some of the duties typically reserved for a judge will eliminate some of that.”

Additionally, when Sherrod took office, the magistrate court already had an assistant chief in Shaina Ellington, ready to step in on an as-needed basis. Bringing parity to the probate side of the bench only made sense.

When it came time to decide who would serve in the new role, the answer was clear.

“There’s no one better suited for this than Jeanie Hooks,” Judge Sherrod said. “She’s been here more than a decade. She’s one of the most experienced probate clerks in our circuit, so she’s seen just about everything. Her work ethic is second to none; she shows up every day and goes above and beyond. She’s probably as knowledgeable as some attorneys, and I mean that. I’ll go to the handbook to double-check something, and she’s right every single time. I learn some-thing from her every day.”

For Hooks, the moment is humbling.

“I’m honored by the trust placed in me,” Hooks said. “This court and this community have been a huge part of my life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in this new way.”

Vice Chairman Timmy Oliver, who represents District 5, said the decision to approve the role was a practical, and thus easy, one.

“When Chase came to us with his request, he made a real good case,” Vice Chairman Oliver said. “The court system has changed, and the needs of our citizens have changed with it. This decision really shows our board’s commitment to evolving in a way that makes sense both at the bottom line of our budget and in the courtroom.”

Sherrod agreed, crediting the board’s support and willingness to listen as a key reason the initiative moved forward.

“I didn’t come in looking to make changes for the sake of change,” he said. “I was pretty de-liberate in coming in and just watching. I took time to evaluate and observe, and what I saw confirmed what I felt from day one: this role is necessary if we want to be truly efficient and truly effective.”

Sherrod said the move is part of a broader goal to strengthen the court’s ability to work collaboratively on a variety of important issues.

“First and foremost, we have to make sure we’re running smoothly. The courts I inherited were already in good shape; this just takes it a step further. Long-term, however, I hope this position helps us play a more active role in addressing the real issues our community is facing,” he said.

While his role as a judge limits how directly he can advocate for causes and people, Judge Sherrod noted the court is open to partnering with local agencies and authorities to extend the impact of services, particularly in cases involving family crises, guardianship, and mental health. One added benefit of creating this position, Sherrod said, is that it frees up more time to focus on proactive and preventative efforts in those areas.

“We use a lot of buzz words like ‘effectiveness’ and ‘efficiency,’ even when we’re talking about making Jeanie associate probate judge. Those words and being able to accomplish them are great, but there’s something to be said about the things you can’t sum up in a single word,” Sherrod said. “What really matters is being able to sign an order to apprehend when someone’s in crisis or being able to help a family get guardianship paperwork handled before things spiral. Having the time and capacity to work on solutions now for those kinds of situations is where this position will really make a difference tomorrow.”

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners governs Emanuel County, focusing on legislative and administrative responsibilities. Comprised of representatives from five districts, the board oversees policies and programs that impact local development, budgeting, and public services. Commissioners work collectively to ensure fiscal responsibility and address community needs, collaborating with other county departments and agencies. They are committed to supporting economic growth, public safety, and community well-being across Emanuel County.

For more information about the commissioners and for the latest from the county government, visit 124 North Main Street in Swainsboro; call 478-237-3881; follow us on Facebook; or visit www.emanuelco-ga.gov.